Holiday operator Tui has been slapped with legal action from more than 1,700 British holidaymakers after falling sick during trips to Cape Verde.
Law firm Irwin Mitchell confirmed the spiralling legal case has been led by tourists who believe they contracted stomach infections in the West African island nation as recently as a fortnight ago.
The claimants complained they were afflicted with gastrointestinal illnesses including salmonella, shigella, E.coli and parasitic infections such as cryptosporidium while staying at resorts in the west African nation.
Among those affected were children, with some as young as six months old when they became unwell.
Lawyers now believe eight Britons have died after contracting suspected infections during Cape Verde holidays, a jump from the six deaths previously reported.
Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham, died on August 10 last year after staying at the five-star RIU Cabo Verde resort.
Her son Sean Walsh described how rapidly his mother's condition worsened, telling the BBC: "Through the night, we were there with her trying to see if she'd pull out of it, but she just deteriorated."
Karen Pooley, also 64, died from sepsis and multi-organ failure following her airlift from a Cape Verde clinic on October 16.
More than 1,700 tourists are now instructing specialist lawyers to pursue legal action against the holiday company
| GETTYHer daughter Liz Pooley said: "No family should go through this, no family should have to FaceTime their mum on a Friday night, and by the following Friday, organise a funeral."
Irwin Mitchell solicitor Jatinder Paul told the BBC he had never encountered litigation of this magnitude throughout his career.
As it stands, the firm is pursuing all claims against Tui, arguing the company failed in its duty to provide safe package holidays.
Mr Paul warned that without an amicable resolution, proceedings could reach the High Court, potentially resulting in damages worth millions of pounds for affected clients.
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Eight British tourists have lost their lives after suffering an infection following a holiday in Cape Verde
| GETTYFootage obtained by the BBC shows undercooked food, fly-infested buffets and mould in hotel rooms.
Tui confirmed it is investigating the claims but is "not in a position to provide a statement at this stage".
The airline and holiday company added the company does not yet have access to the full Cape Verde health report, which remains unpublished.
RIU Hotels and Resorts maintained that guest health and safety remained its primary concern.
The company insisted its Cape Verde properties adhere to the strictest international hygiene standards certified by external consultancy firms.
Back in February, a UK Health Security Agency investigation in February identified 112 shigella cases and 43 salmonella cases since October 2025.
Despite the mounting health concerns, the sunny holiday destination remains a sought-after getaway.
Since 2022, Tui has taken more than one million holidaymakers to the island country.