Holiday Food Poisoning - "Airborne Virus" or a Holiday Illness Compensation Claim?
Simpson Millar LLP’s Holiday Compensation Claims Solicitors are receiving a significant increase in the number of holidaymakers complaining of illness abroad - particularly on holiday with illness caused by salmonella food poisoning.
Common holiday destinations experiencing a rise in reports of illness include Turkey – Spain – Tunisia - Egypt and Mexico where all the main tour operators feature all-inclusive hotels.
Simon Lomax, Holiday Illness Claims Manager is, however, concerned that excuses are often used by tour operators to avoid holiday compensation claims and that the true number of holidaymakers affected by illness on holiday could be much higher.
Worryingly, when an illness outbreak happens Simon believes that Holiday Representatives are increasingly advising travellers that their holiday illness is not caused by a bacterial infection such as Salmonella – Campylobacter – E-coli or Cryptosporidium, but more probably by a mysterious 'airborne virus'!
Simon ponders whether indeed birds are the cause of the mysterious 'airborne virus' that Holiday Representatives are increasingly referring too?
Simon said: "Pigeons, seagulls and other birds are commonly attracted to hotels and their garden areas abroad. They are often observed eating food directly from hotel buffet counters or defecating in hotel swimming pools. What people seem unaware of is that wild birds carry the bugs like Salmonella – Campylobacter and E-coli."
"Birds natural feeding and scavenging habits make it very possible that they could be infected or be physical carriers of viruses and enteric pathogens - which when transmitted to food and surfaces subsequently lead to illness amongst holidaymakers who unwittingly ingest the pathogens."
"Holidaymakers who inhale dust from the dried droppings of infected birds can also contract a disease called Chlamydiosis. Symptoms experienced by holidaymakers suffering from this rare but potentially life threatening disease range from very mild flu-like symptoms and sore eyes to chest infections and serious liver complaints."
"Seagulls are known to be a prime reservoir of food poisoning bacteria – especially Salmonella and Campylobacter. Recent investigations into their insalubrious diets found that enteric bacteria are directly related to refuse consumption, landfills and untreated sewage – a common feeding place for seagulls."
"Gulls also excrete Cryptosporidium and Giardia bacteria into swimming pools which can then contaminate swimming pools for several days if filtration is inadequate."
Simon believes that Holiday Representatives have a duty to direct travellers who are ill or sick on holiday to an English speaking doctor and should refrain from making unqualified assumptions about the possible cause of illness. Whilst most episodes of food poisoning are short lived some holiday illnesses can lead to complications and very serious and long term illness complaints.
If your holiday abroad was ruined by illness then contact Simon Lomax on:
Freephone: 0808 145 1353 or drop us a line using the form above.
Simpson Millar are holiday illness claims experts and take on cases on a 'no win no fee' basis. If your case is accepted and you quote 'Claim250' you can look forward to receiving £250 within 7 days which is yours to keep whether your claim is successful or not.
Useful Information:
Dated: 12/05/2010
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