Over 1,700 British tourists, who fell ill during holidays in the Cape Verde islands, have joined a lawsuit against travel firm Tui.

Lawyers from Irwin Mitchell, leading the case, believe at least eight people have died after holidaying in the country. The firm had earlier reported six deaths since 2023.

They told the BBC that tourists who fell ill in Cape Verde, a popular holiday destination, around two weeks ago contacted them to join in the legal action.

According to the lawyers, tourists said they suffered illnesses such as cryptosporidium, E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella, as well as parasitic infections. It said children as young as six months were also affected.

The firm said it had also gathered evidence of issues at some hotels.

“In all my years of doing this work, I have not seen a case this large and, unfortunately, so many that have died as a result of the illnesses,” Jatinder Paul, a lawyer from Irwin Mitchell solicitors, told BBC Breakfast, according to a report published on Tuesday.

Mr Paul said the firm was pursuing cases against the travel firm for failing in its responsibility to keep clients safe during their stay in the West African archipelago.

He added, “If we’re unable to resolve them amicably, we expect a judge in the High Court to make an order which would involve payment of millions of pounds worth of damages to our clients.”

The BBC said the footage showed undercooked food, buffets swarming with flies, and mould in the room.

It said 64-year-old Elena Walsh from Birmingham, who was on holiday in Cape Verde with her family through Tui, died in a hospital on August 10, 2025, after feeling unwell two days before.

“Through the night, we were there with her trying to see if she’d pull out of it, but she just deteriorated,” her son, Sean Walsh, told BBC Breakfast. “I just want people to not go there. Because, yes, people can go on holidays there and come back and be fine, but my mum didn’t.”

Another tourist, Karen Pooley from Lydney, died in October after a two-week trip to Cape Verde through the travel agency. Ms Pooley was said to have had gastric symptoms.

She died on October 16 from sepsis and multi-organ failure after being airlifted from a clinic in Cape Verde to Tenerife. Her daughter blamed Tui for Ms Pooley’s death.

Tui, which has taken over one million holidaymakers to Cape Verde since 2022, said in a statement that customers’ health and safety remained its priority.

Expressing sadness over the deaths, Tui said it was investigating the claims, saying  it had yet to “have access to the full Cape Verde health report, which remains unpublished.”

The firm maintained that it had procedures for clients who fall ill during holidays and that such cases must be reported for support.

In February, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned Brits against travelling to the African country after dozens suffered stomach bugs during holidays.

The UKHSA said that since October 1, 2025, it identified 118 cases of Shigella and 43 of Salmonella linked to trips to Cape Verde. It said that while some recovered within a week, four died while holidaying there.