Guide to Campylobacter and Food Poisoning Abroad
When you book a package holiday with your tour operator, you want to know that your whole family won’t just have a great time but also be safe. We find that Campylobacter is a common cause of diarrhoea for British tourists at all-inclusive package holiday resorts.
In this guide we’re going to explain what Campylobacter is, how to avoid it, and what to do if you or your family become unwell, including advice on how to make a claim for compensation.
About Campylobacter
Campylobacter can result in severe symptoms that might leave you unable to enjoy your holiday, including the following:
Generally Campylobacter takes symptoms between 2 and 5 days to incubate following infection, although this can happen within 1 and 10 days. Generally symptoms last for between 2 days and a week, however in some instances they can last for longer.
Long-Term Health Problems
While the symptoms of Campylobacter often can be treated with the appropriate medication and by remaining hydrated, but there are some potential long lasting health complications that can ensue:
At the time you might not think that a bout of food poisoning requires the attention of a doctor or medical professional, however in addition to providing you with a proper diagnosis and treatment, you may be able to reduce the risk of developing further health complications that might have a big impact on your quality of life.
Where Campylobacter can Strike
Although Campylobacter is not exclusive to any particular country, in recent years we have found that holidaymakers returning from countries outside of Europe are most likely to be affected, with the following countries posing particular cause for concern:
How Not to Contract Campylobacter
One of the best ways to avoid a holiday ruining bout of Campylobacter is to understand how it is spread. The following are some of the more common methods of spreading the Campylobacter bacteria, but keep in mind that while it’s a rare occurrence, this harmful bacterium can be spread by infected hotel guests, resort staff and restaurant employees:
Cross-contamination can also cause this harmful bacterial infection to soon spread, with the following being the most common causes of cross-contamination:
If you become aware of poor food hygiene practices or notice that insects, birds or wildlife is present in areas where food is available, it’s important to make a complaint to the restaurant staff and your tour operator. They should act on your complaint and take steps to prevent an outbreak of travellers’ diarrhoea. Also avoid drinking water that could have come from a tap or unknown source and stick to sealed bottles of water for the duration of your holiday.
Case Study Example: £15,000 Compensation for Campylobacter in Mexico
The following example is from a case study wherein we helped a client to claim compensation following a holiday ruining Campylobacter infection:
Mrs Doree suffered from campylobacter food poisoning that was likely caused by her stay at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. Mrs Doree’s symptoms started 3 days from the end of her holiday and included acute stomach cramps and diarrhoea which lasted for 3 days. In addition to her symptoms, while visiting the bathroom she fainted, likely due to exhaustion and dehydration, and hurt her face. Mrs Doree was unable to work for 6 weeks and suffered from depression as a consequence of the holiday bug. She was treated for parasites in her stool as well as campylobacter and also developed post-infective Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Her prognosis was that while her condition would continue indefinitely, it should improve with time.
Because of the severity of our client’s condition and her on-going pain and suffering, we secured an award of £15,000 compensation from her tour operator.