British holidaymakers planning winter sun breaks in Cape Verde are being urged to take extra care after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an urgent health reminder about a serious outbreak of stomach bugs linked to the islands. At least six Britons have died since 2023, including four within the last few months, and more than a hundred confirmed infections with Shigella and Salmonella have been tied to recent travel to the archipelago. With February half term approaching and Cape Verde more popular than ever, would-be visitors are asking what this means for their holidays and how worried they should be.
What Is Happening in Cape Verde Right Now
UKHSA published updated advice on 5 February 2026 after new data showed a significant cluster of gastrointestinal infections among travellers returning from Cape Verde. Health officials have identified at least 158 confirmed Shigella cases in the current outbreak period since October 2025, with the overwhelming majority linked to trips to Cape Verde. Many of those affected had stayed in large all-inclusive resorts on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, particularly in the Santa Maria area.
These infections are not isolated upsets. Over the past three years, six British holidaymakers have died after suffering severe gastric illness during or shortly after their stays in Cape Verde, four of them between August and November 2025. Dozens more have reported intense bouts of diarrhoea, vomiting and fever, with some describing local hospitals and clinics as overwhelmed and under-resourced.
The timing of the warning is particularly sensitive. Cape Verde has become a key winter sun destination for British travellers, with package holidays, direct flights and year-round warm weather driving strong demand. Travel companies say bookings remain high, but the growing number of reported cases and the tragic deaths have triggered investigations, legal claims and sharp questions for both tour operators and hotel groups.
The Bugs Behind the Alert: Shigella and Salmonella Explained
At the heart of the current concern are two well-known gastrointestinal pathogens: Shigella and Salmonella. Both are bacteria that infect the gut and are typically spread by the faecal-oral route, meaning microscopic traces of contaminated material enter the mouth via food, water or surfaces. Even a tiny dose of Shigella can cause illness, which makes it particularly easy to spread in settings where hygiene and sanitation are not robust.
Shigella infection, sometimes referred to as shigellosis, usually presents with sudden onset diarrhoea that may be watery or contain blood and mucus, along with stomach cramps, fever and a general feeling of being very unwell. Symptoms often begin one to three days after exposure. For otherwise healthy adults, it is unpleasant but usually self-limiting, lasting around five to seven days. However, in young children, older adults and people with existing medical problems, the infection can lead to dehydration, complications and, in rare cases, death.
Salmonella is another common cause of food poisoning. It is usually contracted by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the bacteria, particularly undercooked meat and poultry, eggs, unpasteurised dairy or food that has been left out at unsafe temperatures. Symptoms are similar to Shigella: diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. Most people recover without treatment in a few days, but again, vulnerable individuals are at higher risk of serious illness.
In Cape Verde, public health investigators have pointed to a combination of potential transmission routes: hotel buffet food that may not always be kept piping hot, salads or fruit washed in unsafe water, local swimming pools where contamination can occur, and general sanitation issues in and around busy resort areas. Once one or two people become infected in a resort environment, there is a real risk of wider spread through shared facilities, crowded dining rooms and high guest turnover.
What UK Health Authorities and Travel Officials Are Saying
UKHSA has stopped short of advising against travel to Cape Verde altogether, but its messaging is clear: British travellers should be aware of the elevated risk of gastrointestinal infection and take specific precautions to protect themselves and others. The agency stresses that simple hygiene measures can dramatically cut the chance of falling ill, including very careful handwashing with soap and water or alcohol gel after using the toilet and before eating.
In its latest update, UKHSA highlights the scale of the current outbreak, noting that more than 90 percent of recent Shigella cases with a travel link have been associated with Cape Verde. Officials point out that these cases are being detected in returning holidaymakers rather than residents, underscoring the role of resort environments, hotel catering arrangements and typical tourist activities. The agency has coordinated with public health bodies in other European countries that are seeing similar patterns among their own citizens.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which issues travel advice for British nationals, continues to describe Cape Verde as a generally safe destination but reminds travellers that healthcare facilities on the islands are basic and limited. Serious illness may require medical evacuation to the Canary Islands or mainland Europe, something that can be both logistically complex and extremely costly without appropriate insurance. Travellers are being urged to read the latest health and safety information closely before departure, especially if they or their children have chronic health conditions.
Travel medicine specialists echo these concerns and say the Cape Verde situation is a sharp reminder that resort holidays are not immune to classic travel health risks. Many are advising higher-risk patients to consider whether this is the right destination for them at the moment, or at least to have a frank conversation with a GP or travel clinic about stand-by medications, vaccination needs and contingency plans if they do fall ill abroad.
Who Is Most at Risk and How Serious Is the Threat?
For most healthy adults, the likelihood remains that, even if they do contract a gastrointestinal bug while abroad, they will endure an unpleasant few days and then recover fully. However, the Cape Verde cases show how dramatically the risk profile changes for certain groups and in certain circumstances. Several of the British victims had underlying medical conditions that were stable and controlled before they travelled, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. When combined with severe dehydration, infection and the stress of illness far from home, those conditions became much more dangerous.
Young children, particularly under-fives, are also more susceptible to rapid dehydration from diarrhoea and vomiting. Pregnant women face additional concerns, both for their own health and their baby’s, while older adults may struggle to maintain fluid intake or manage symptoms in a hot climate. Anyone taking immune-suppressing medications, including steroids or drugs used for autoimmune conditions and some cancers, is at higher risk of infection becoming severe or prolonged.
The circumstances of being on holiday can make matters worse. People tend to spend more time in the sun, drink alcohol, eat larger or more unusual meals, and may delay seeking medical advice because they do not want to disrupt their trip. In a busy resort, it can also be easy to dismiss early symptoms as a minor “holiday tummy” rather than a potentially serious infection. The UK cases show that once dehydration and systemic infection take hold, especially in older or vulnerable travellers, the window for effective treatment may be narrow.
While the overall chance of any individual traveller dying from these infections is still low, the cluster of fatalities linked to one destination has understandably rattled both the public and the travel industry. For families about to travel, the key question is not whether Cape Verde is suddenly “off limits” but how to realistically weigh the risks in light of their own health, itinerary and appetite for precaution.
Practical Steps to Protect Yourself Before and During Your Trip
If you have a Cape Verde holiday booked, you do not automatically need to cancel, but you should prepare more carefully than you might for other short-haul beach breaks. Before you travel, check the latest official travel health advice and consider speaking to a GP, practice nurse, pharmacist or travel clinic at least four to six weeks in advance if possible. They can advise on any recommended vaccines, malaria precautions (for some islands and itineraries) and whether you should carry stand-by antibiotics or specific medications based on your health profile.
Travel insurance is critical. Ensure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation and medical evacuation, with limits high enough for an air ambulance transfer if needed. Declare any pre-existing medical conditions honestly. Policies that appear cheap but exclude chronic illnesses, or cap overseas medical costs at a low level, may prove disastrously inadequate if something goes wrong in a destination with limited facilities.
Pack a basic travel health kit. This should include oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoeal medication where appropriate, pain relief, a digital thermometer and alcohol hand gel. For families with young children, consider child-appropriate oral rehydration sachets and syringes or cups to help with fluid intake if they become unwell. These simple items can make an enormous difference to comfort and recovery should mild-to-moderate illness strike.
Once in Cape Verde, be meticulous about food and water hygiene. Choose food that is freshly cooked, thoroughly heated and served hot rather than lukewarm. Avoid raw or undercooked meat and fish, unpasteurised dairy products and any dishes that have been sitting uncovered on a buffet for long periods. In areas where you are not completely sure about the water supply, drink only bottled or properly boiled water, use it for brushing your teeth, skip ice in drinks and avoid salads or fruit that you have not peeled yourself. These habits, while sometimes inconvenient on holiday, significantly reduce the risk of ingesting harmful bacteria.
Where the Outbreak Is Focused and What to Watch for on the Ground
Current data indicate that many of the identified Shigella and Salmonella cases are linked to stays on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, especially in the resort town of Santa Maria on Sal. Popular all-inclusive hotels, particularly those catering heavily to British and northern European markets, feature repeatedly in travellers’ accounts of illness. Several of the British deaths have been associated with guests who stayed at large branded resorts there.
That does not mean other islands are risk-free, nor that every hotel in the affected areas is unsafe. However, it does underline the importance of paying attention to hygiene standards where you are staying. Watch how food is handled at buffets, whether hot dishes are kept adequately heated and cold dishes kept genuinely chilled. Take note of how quickly staff clean up spills and how often you see handwashing or the use of gloves in food preparation areas.
Swimming pools and shared facilities are another potential route for infection. If toddlers are using pools in nappies, or if you notice cloudiness, debris or a strong smell of chlorine, consider limiting your time in the water. Showering after swimming, and certainly before meals, helps to remove any bacteria that may have come into contact with your skin. Simple measures such as wearing flip-flops around pool areas and in communal bathrooms also cut down on the risk of picking up or spreading infections.
Be alert to early symptoms in yourself and your family: onset of diarrhoea, particularly if accompanied by fever, abdominal cramps, blood in the stool or repeated vomiting. Do not ignore these signs or push through them in the hope of salvaging holiday activities. Rest, hydrate aggressively with safe fluids and use oral rehydration salts. If symptoms worsen, or if you have underlying conditions, seek medical advice promptly from hotel doctors, local clinics or through your travel insurer’s assistance hotline.
Industry Response and What This Means for Future Holidays
The high-profile nature of the Cape Verde cases has placed intense scrutiny on both local authorities and the companies that profit from British and European tourism to the islands. Major tour operators that send large numbers of holidaymakers to Sal and Boa Vista are facing legal claims from affected families and travellers, some of whom allege poor hygiene standards at resorts and inadequate information about the risks they faced.
Hotel groups and resort managers, in turn, are under pressure to demonstrate that they have tightened food safety procedures, improved kitchen and buffet operations, and strengthened pool and sanitation practices. Official investigations are examining whether outbreaks were handled appropriately and whether any systemic failings played a role in the scale and severity of illness clusters.
In the short term, this may lead to more visible hygiene measures in popular resorts, from staff training and enhanced cleaning to more rigorous temperature checks on food and better signage around pools and toilets. Travellers might also find that tour companies are more proactive in pushing pre-travel health advice and in reminding guests on arrival about handwashing, safe eating and when to report symptoms.
Longer term, the Cape Verde situation is likely to influence how travellers assess risk when booking all-inclusive sunshine breaks. Destinations with limited healthcare capacity may see closer monitoring by public health authorities, and outbreaks of food- and waterborne disease could trigger faster, more public interventions. For holidaymakers, the lesson is that even seemingly familiar, package-based destinations deserve the same level of health planning and vigilance as more adventurous trips.
The Takeaway
Cape Verde remains a beautiful and tempting destination for British travellers seeking guaranteed winter sun, but the current outbreak of Shigella and Salmonella infections is a stark reminder that no holiday is entirely risk-free. The deaths of six Britons since 2023, alongside many more serious illnesses, show how quickly a routine bout of “holiday tummy” can become a medical emergency, particularly for older travellers and those with underlying conditions.
The UK health authorities’ message is not to abandon Cape Verde trips wholesale, but to travel with your eyes open. That means understanding the specific risks, taking meticulous care over food, water and hygiene, and planning ahead with robust insurance, a sensible travel health kit and a clear idea of when and how to seek help if you or your family fall ill. It also means being honest about your own health status and, where necessary, reconsidering travel or seeking tailored medical advice before you go.
For now, travellers who follow best-practice precautions are still likely to enjoy trouble-free visits to Cape Verde’s beaches and volcanic landscapes. But until the current outbreak is firmly under control and confidence in local hygiene and healthcare systems is restored, every would-be visitor should treat this destination with a level of care more often associated with far-flung or developing regions. A little caution in the planning stages, and a lot of handwashing on the ground, could make the difference between a dream winter escape and a holiday story that ends in tragedy.
FAQ
Q1. Is it still safe to travel to Cape Verde from the UK?
UK authorities have not told people to stop travelling to Cape Verde, but they have highlighted a clear increase in serious stomach bug cases linked to recent holidays there. For most healthy adults, the risk can be managed with careful food, water and hygiene precautions, but higher-risk travellers should seek medical advice before deciding whether to go.
Q2. Which islands and resorts are most affected by the outbreak?
Many of the confirmed Shigella and Salmonella cases in British travellers have been linked to stays on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, particularly in the resort town of Santa Maria on Sal. Large all-inclusive hotels and resort complexes feature frequently in case reports, although this does not mean that every property in these areas is unsafe.
Q3. What symptoms should I watch for if I am on holiday in Cape Verde?
Key warning signs include sudden onset diarrhoea, especially if it is watery or bloody, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever and severe tiredness. If you or a family member develop these symptoms, start oral rehydration, rest, and seek medical advice promptly, particularly if there is blood in the stool, high fever, worsening pain or any underlying health conditions.
Q4. How can I reduce my risk of catching Shigella or Salmonella?
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or use alcohol gel after using the toilet and before eating. Choose food that is freshly cooked and served piping hot, avoid raw or undercooked meat and fish, skip salads and unpeeled fruit in places where water quality is uncertain, drink only bottled or boiled water and avoid ice in drinks if you are unsure it was made from safe water.
Q5. Should families with young children cancel trips to Cape Verde?
Families do not automatically need to cancel, but they do need to understand that young children are more vulnerable to dehydration from diarrhoea and vomiting. Parents should be prepared to be very strict about hygiene, carry child-friendly oral rehydration salts and be ready to seek medical help quickly if a child becomes unwell. If a child has a chronic health condition, discuss the trip with a paediatrician or GP.
Q6. What kind of medical care is available in Cape Verde if I get seriously ill?
Healthcare facilities in Cape Verde are generally basic and limited, particularly outside the main urban centres. Serious cases may require evacuation to better-equipped hospitals in the Canary Islands or mainland Europe. This is why comprehensive travel insurance with strong medical and repatriation cover is essential for anyone travelling there.
Q7. Do I need any special vaccines or medicines before travelling?
There is no vaccine specifically for Shigella or Salmonella of the type involved in this outbreak, but you should check routine travel vaccinations such as hepatitis A and typhoid, and any other recommended jabs based on your itinerary. Some higher-risk travellers may be advised to carry stand-by antibiotics or specific medications; this should always be discussed with a GP or travel clinic rather than self-prescribed.
Q8. What should I put in a travel health kit for a Cape Verde holiday?
A sensible kit includes oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoeal tablets where appropriate, painkillers, a digital thermometer, alcohol hand gel, plasters and basic dressings. Families with children should add child-dose medicines and oral rehydration designed for younger ages. These items make it easier to manage mild and moderate illness promptly and comfortably.
Q9. Will my travel insurance cover illness from a stomach bug outbreak?
Most standard travel insurance policies cover emergency medical treatment for illnesses such as severe food poisoning or bacterial infections, but you must read the small print. You should declare pre-existing conditions, check coverage limits for overseas medical care and medical evacuation, and ensure that the policy does not exclude claims related to known outbreaks unless you are directly advised not to travel.
Q10. I have a trip booked soon. What is the single most important thing I should do now?
The most important step is to inform yourself properly. Check the latest official travel and health advice, talk to a healthcare professional if you or a companion have any medical conditions, and review your insurance. Once you decide to travel, commit to strict hygiene and safe eating habits on the ground. Thoughtful preparation now will put you in the strongest position to enjoy your holiday safely.