Over 1,000 Tourists Contract Severe Shigellosis at Cabo Verde Resort
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Health authorities across Europe and the United States have confirmed more than 1,000 cases of severe gastrointestinal infections among travelers returning from Cabo Verde, with 766 linked to shigellosis caused by the Shigella sonnei strain. Most affected individuals stayed at the same all-inclusive hotel chain in the Santa Maria region on the island of Sal. The outbreak, ongoing since September 2022, saw a surge in new cases reported in late March 2026.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control assessed the risk of additional infections in Santa Maria as moderate because the contamination source, likely food- or waterborne, remains unidentified. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, high fever, abdominal cramps, and dehydration, with some strains showing antibiotic resistance that complicates treatment. No licensed vaccine exists, though candidates remain in clinical trials.
Investigations by local Cabo Verdean authorities, European agencies, and international partners continue without a pinpointed cause. The United Kingdom reported 263 cases while the United States recorded seven. Travelers who visited Sal and develop persistent diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, or severe cramps should seek immediate medical care and disclose their recent travel history.
Cabo Verde, an Atlantic archipelago 385 miles off West Africa, attracts visitors primarily for its beaches and resorts. The Santa Maria area on Sal serves as a popular destination for European package tours. Health officials expect further cases until control measures take full effect at the implicated properties.
This development adds to ongoing challenges for tourism-dependent islands in the region. Affected resorts have not issued public statements on specific remediation steps. Travelers planning future trips to Cabo Verde should consult updated health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or equivalent national bodies before departure.
The ECDC epidemiological update issued on March 18 detailed the multi-country cluster. Returnees from the affected hotel chain dominate the case counts across 13 EU/EEA countries plus the UK and US. Standard hygiene precautions, including safe food and water practices, offer limited protection when the source persists.
Cabo Verde tourism officials have not announced widespread closures or advisories for the island group. Popular all-inclusive properties continue operations while investigations proceed. Spring bookings for beach destinations may face scrutiny from cautious travelers monitoring gastrointestinal outbreak reports.
Health experts recommend hand hygiene, bottled water use, and avoidance of undercooked foods at resort settings with known risks. No entry or exit restrictions apply to Cabo Verde at present. Travelers with symptoms upon return benefit from prompt testing to differentiate shigellosis from similar infections such as salmonellosis or campylobacteriosis.
The scale of the outbreak underscores vulnerabilities in resort food safety protocols for mass tourism. International coordination aims to trace the exact transmission pathway and implement corrective actions at the source. Updates from health agencies will track whether the cluster expands beyond current figures.
Travelers returning from Sal with gastrointestinal complaints contribute data to ongoing surveillance. Cabo Verde maintains its position as an emerging leisure destination, yet this incident highlights the need for heightened vigilance at all-inclusive properties in the Santa Maria zone.
