Health warning over Cape Verde travel after stomach bug deaths

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned people over travel to Cape Verde after dozens of Britons fell ill with stomach bugs while there. Since 1 October, the agency has identified 118 cases of shigella and 43 of salmonella linked to trips to the West African archipelago. While most people recover within a week, four British people have died within months of contracting stomach bugs while on holiday there.

Shigella and salmonella are both bacterial infections that affect the gut and can cause symptoms including diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps. Though many who are infected make a full recovery, young children, elderly people, pregnant women and people with existing conditions or a weakened immune system can experience severe symptoms and suffer potentially life-threatening complications. The two bacteria are spread through contact with contaminated faeces, either directly through person-to-person transmission or indirectly from unclean food, water or surfaces. eat food that is freshly prepared, fully cooked and served piping hotdrink bottled or boiled water and avoid ice in drinksuse bottled or boiled water when brushing your teethonly eat fruit you’ve peeled yourselfavoid salads that may not have been washed in clean water “Taking a few simple precautions against traveller’s diarrhoea and food poisoning can make all the difference,” Dr Gauri Godbole, the UKHSA’s deputy director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, said.