Foreign Office issues warning for winter holiday hotspot after diarrhoea outbreak | UK | News
The State Department has issued a new travel warning for a holiday hotspot after travelers returned from the sunny destination with Shigella, a nasty infection that can cause stomach aches and diarrhoea. FCDO is investigating a reported increase in cases of the virus in travelers returning from Cape Verde, a scenic island nation off the west coast of Central Africa.
Cape Verde has become popular with tourists for its beaches and resorts, which are often more affordable than tourist destinations in Europe. However, the number of tourists falling ill after spending time in Cape Verde has increased. Of the 137 cases of the virus reported in the UK, 109 people reported traveling to Cape Verde. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control’s (ECDC) weekly infectious disease threats report on the Shigella outbreak in Cape Verde is at the top of its agenda.
Those who contract Shigella often complain of fever, bloody diarrhea and cramps. People catch Shigella by ingesting microscopic amounts of infected feces, which can be found in contaminated food and water.
It can also be transmitted through sexual contact. Cases range from mild to severe. “This is a recurring outbreak of gastrointestinal diseases; the underlying cause of transmission requires further investigation so that mitigating measures can be taken to prevent further cases,” the report states.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns: “Medical facilities in Cape Verde are basic and limited, and some medications are inadequate or unavailable.
“The largest hospitals are in Praia in Santiago and Mindelo in São Vicente; smaller medical facilities and clinics are located throughout the country. Medical facilities are particularly limited on the island of Boa Vista.”
Other European countries have reported Shigella infections in people returning from Cape Verde. The latest report of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control states that cases were also reported in the Netherlands, France, Ireland and Sweden.
“Country reports indicate that affected travelers stayed in 5-star, all-inclusive hotels located in the Santa Maria area on the island of Sal or on the island of Boa Vista,” the report says.
“Information regarding possible means of infection or common exposures has not yet been reported. Multiple routes of transmission are plausible; most likely foodborne, but person-to-person transmission cannot be ruled out.”
