Image source, Getty ImagesByAleks PhillipsPublished5 February 2026 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. The warning comes ahead of the February half term, when a greater number of British holidaymakers are expected to travel to the popular winter destination. 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.
Published: February 5, 2026 2:23 pm
Source: BBC — Read original