NEXT time you choose your holiday destination, you could be putting your family’s health at risk.
A study found that Hurghada in Egypt is one of the top spots for food poisoning complaints – although Spain isn’t too far behind.
2
The report, conducted by travel illness claim experts Sick Holiday and food intolerance company YorkTest, found 95 per cent of claims were for the popular holiday resort in Egypt.
The investigation looked at all complaints over a 24-month period from the beginning of 2017 to the end of 2018.
It found 380 cases of food poisoning were reported for Brits in Hurghada.
Richard Conroy of Sick Holiday said: “The levels of holiday illness we see from certain locations is very worrying.
2
“For two years we have received a complaint about Hurghada more than once every two days, a huge number for such a small resort.”
Other risky destinations included Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic with 211 complaints, and Riviera Maya in Mexico, with 182 complaints..
Turkey also suffered, with 108 reports in Antalaya.
Spain just made the top ten, with Majorca and Benidorm with 66 cases and 62 cases, respectively.
Richard added: “Food poisoning kills 420,000 people a year worldwide and 600 million people a year are affected by it.”
Scientific Director Dr Gill Hart warned: “A particularly nasty bout can develop into longer-term food intolerances, the symptoms of which can include fatigue, headaches, bloating and migraines.
“Every year, thousands of people also end up with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a direct result of food poisoning, which is difficult to manage and can cause severe abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, gas, diarrhoea and constipation.”
However, Richard also admitted that the claims are only a fraction in some destinations popular with Brits.
He said: “A lot of the time countrywide highs of claims can just be attributed to the number of Brits who travel there every year.
“Spain, for instance, recorded 540 claims over two years but the country welcomes millions of people from the UK.”
What are the symptoms of food poisoning?
According to the NHS, symptoms of food poisoning include:
- feeling sick (nausea)
- diarrhoea
- being sick (vomiting)
- stomach cramps
- a high temperature of 38C or above
- feeling generally unwell – such as feeling tired or having aches and chills
Food poisoning is often contracted by food that isn’t cooked properly, not stored correctly or is handled by someone who already has the illness.
The sickness often goes away within a week by itself.
A family-of-four all fell ill at a resort in Hurghada last year after contracting food poisoning.
Sarah and Thomas McCormick as well as their 15-year-old and nine-year old daughters contracted Salmonella and Shigella just days into their break.
Brits have been warned before heading to Hurghada due to an e-coli outbreak.
