Holiday Illness
Each year there are thousands of people who become ill whilst on holiday. For many it is simply too much alcohol or sun and after a couple of days they feel much better. Unfortunately there are many people who suffer from more serious conditions such as food poisoning and viral outbreaks.
Because the standard of hygiene and the regulation levels vary from country to country, people on holiday are quite vulnerable to food poisoning. There are many types which include:
Listeria-This is found in a variety of chilled foods that are ready to eat such as soft cheeses, butter, cooked sliced meat and smoked salmon.
Salmonella –This is found in raw meat and poultry and can be passed on to dairy products such as milk and eggs. Improper storage of foods in a refrigerator can cause this.
Campylobacter-This is the most common form of food poisoning and is found in raw meat and poultry.
E-Coli-Undercooked beef and vegetables which have been washed in contaminated water or grown in manure from contaminated animals can cause E-Coli.
If you are on a package holiday where food is provided as part of the package it is the responsibility of your holiday company to make sure the food you are given will not make you ill. Regular inspections of the kitchens and any areas where food and drink is served should be carried out to ensure they are clean. Checks should also be made on food storage and preparation, and on the staff hygiene. Failure to do this puts the holidaymakers health at risk which means they could be liable if any of their customers suffer from food poisoning whilst on holiday with them.
There are other holiday illnesses that people suffer such as these viral infections:
Norovirus-This is common on board cruise ships because of the contained environment. It is normally contracted by eating contaminated food or water and is spread through contact with an infected person or through contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated.
Legionnaire’s disease-This is most commonly found in hotels with ventilation systems. Legionella bacteria live in water droplets carried in the air and people contract this through breathing in the bacteria. It can multiply very quickly in standing water, so hotels that do not change the water in their air conditioning units daily will be at risk of an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease.
Cryptosporidium-There have been many reported cases of this bug which affects many holiday makers each year, especially those who spend a lot of time in and around the hotel swimming pool. This bug spreads quickly from person to person and can be caught through:
- Drinking water that is infected, or swimming pool water at your hotel
- Drinking infected milk and eating raw or uncooked meat
- Poor hygiene in food handlers
If you have suffered an illness whilst on holiday you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
Call Precision Claims today and we will be able to advise you. We work with solicitors who are experienced in handling holiday compensation claims. This is to ensure we get you the best results.
We operate on a No Win No Fee basis so there is absolutely No Risk to you at all.
Call 0844 704 1945 or complete the enquiry form and we will call you back to discuss.
