Shigella in Cape Verde: Expert lawyers supporting UK holidaymakers struck down by illness issue key advice

Shigella infections - known as shigellosis - are common causes of travel‑related gastrointestinal illness and pose a particular risk in regions like Cape Verde, where recent increases in shigella have been reported. 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is currently investigating an increase in reports of shigella infection in travellers returning from Cape Verde, an archipelago of islands off the coast of west Africa, and has issued a travel warning.

What is shigella? 

Shigella is bacterial infection typically spread through contaminated food, water, surfaces, or direct contact. While often mild it can be serious especially for young children, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems. 

What causes shigella infection?

There are various ways shigella bacteria can be transmitted:

Faecal–oral transmission: Shigella can spread via microscopic amounts of faeces being ingested. This can occur through:

• Contaminated hands or surfaces, especially after using toilets, changing nappies, or caring for ill individuals.
• Person-to-person contact, especially in crowded or unsanitary environments.
• Sexual activities. 

Contaminated food and water: Eating raw vegetables, salads, or any food handled by infected individuals can introduce the bacteria. 

Drinking or swimming in untreated water similarly increases risk. 

What are the symptoms?

If you've been infected with the bacteria, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Sudden onset of diarrhoea, often bloody or with mucus.
• Frequent stomach cramps, abdominal pain.
• Fever and urge to pass stool.
• In severe cases: dehydration, reactive arthritis, seizures, or in rare cases haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare complication of shigella infections, that most commonly occurs in children. HUS occurs when bacteria enter the digestive system and produce a toxin that destroys red blood cells, which block kidneys' filtering function and can lead to kidney failure. Patients with HUS often have bloody diarrhoea, and it can be a serious complication. 

Shigella bacteria can spread easily from one person to another, and it only takes a small amount of bacteria to make someone sick.

People with shigella usually start experiencing symptoms one to two days after contact with the bacteria.

Symptoms often last five to seven days, but some people may experience symptoms anywhere from a few days to four or more weeks. 

In some cases, it can take several months before bowel habits are entirely normal, and a person fully recovers from the infection. In severe cases recovery time is to be considered on a person-by-person basis and depends on several factors.

Tips for travellers 

To reduce the risk of infection travellers should take particular care with the following:

Hand Hygiene: It's important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water – especially before and after eating, during food preparation, after using the toilet, and before and after caring for children and ill individuals. 

Use alcohol-based sanitisers when soap and water aren't available. It's important to be aware that hand sanitisers may not be as effective if hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

Food and Water Safety: Ensure you eat fully cooked, steaming hot meals. Always select fruits you can peel yourself and avoid raw fruits and vegetables, salads, street food, tap water, ice made from tap water, and unpasteurised dairy. 

You can have bottled or canned processed drinks, and hot coffee or tea. Stick to bottled or properly treated water for drinking and brushing teeth. 

Avoid swallowing water in pools, rivers, or lakes as water contaminated with faeces can harbour the bacteria. 

What to do if you fall ill

• Seek advice from a doctor if you're concerned about your symptoms, if diarrhoea lasts more than three days, contains blood, or is accompanied by a fever or dehydration.
• Drink plenty of fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration.
• It's important to be aware that healthcare resources can be limited in some overseas countries, and travel insurance is essential.
• Always follow hygiene and food safety advice.
• Check vaccination and malaria advice beforehand, and know that Global Health Insurance Cards (GHIC) are not valid in Cape Verde. 

Supporting holidaymakers to Cape Verde affected by illness

Irwin Mitchell is currently representing more than 1,500 Britons who have been struck down by illnesses, including shigella, linked to holidays in Cape Verde since 2022. Illnesses like shigella are serious; they can lead to long-term health complications, and even sadly prove fatal. 

As most holiday resorts in Cape Verde are all-inclusive and booked as package holidays, tour operators are responsible for ensuring the safety of holidaymakers. If you've recently holidayed to Cape Verde and are continuing to suffer with symptoms, seek medical advice and avoid accepting early settlements from tour operators without understanding your full legal rights. 

Find out more about our expertise in supporting people affected by shigella and other serious illnesses, including on holiday, at our dedicated illness claims section.

More on the UKHSA's advice can be found online.