Holiday Claims Update – Salmonella in Sarigerme – Holiday Village

Aug. 21, 2009 - PRLog -- Holiday Compensation Claims Specialist Solicitors Simpson Millar – Get £250 for your Turkey Holiday Claim

During July and August 2009 complaints of sickness at the Holiday Village Hotel have risen sharply with some holiday makers suggesting as many as half the hotel’s 4000 guests have been ill with food poisoning or sick due to general poor hygiene during their holidays.

Typical complaints Simpson Millar are repeatedly hearing range from:

1. First Choice holiday representatives blaming the hot weather for the large scale sickness outbreak or blaming the outbreak on a ‘virus’ or ‘bug’ introduced by other holidaymakers;
2. Holiday makers being placed on intravenous drips because they are so ill;
3. Ambulances frequently backwards and forwards to the hotel;
4. At least a quarter and in some case half of all guests suffering from symptoms  of diarrhoea and vomiting;
5. Undercooked food and food being served luke warm;
6. Food being left exposed to heat and insects and not replenished regularly;
7. Stained and unclean cutlery and crockery in the dining areas;
8. Dirty swimming pool water causing ear infections;
9. Human faeces in the swimming pools; Pools frequently closed;
10. Mosquitoes and insects infesting the restaurants and contaminating food;
11. Frustrating queues for all the facilities;
12. Not enough staff to cater for the 4000 guests.

Lisa Sheldon, Head of Travel Law at Simpson Millar, urges anyone who has been ill at the Holiday Village in Sarigerme to contact her and had to say: “We have received reports of confirmed pathogens including Salmonella at the Holiday Village. Salmonella is not caused by hot weather or a ‘bug’. Salmonella is caused by contaminated food – food including eggs and chicken that are not cooked thoroughly are known to carry and spread this infection as do poor food handling practices”.

“The fact that so many holiday makers are reporting sickness is not something that can be attributed to hot weather otherwise every hotel in the Sarigerme region or Turkey generally would be experiencing similar sickness outbreaks – which to our knowledge they are not doing.”

Lisa Sheldon believes that food poisoning is the likely reason people are becoming ill and that the infections are then being spread throughout the complex by sick holiday makers.

“When large numbers of guests are suffering from gastric illness then infections can be passed on by infected people. If someone suffering from symptoms of diarrhoea enters the swimming pool they may contaminate the water. Tour operators are more than familiar with outbreaks of illness at hotels and should manage these situations by implementing infection control procedures and not simply ignoring the problem.”

Anyone who has been affected by illness at the Holiday Village can receive free legal advice and speak to a Holiday Claims Advisor on freephone: 0808 129 3347 or you may send us your enquiry using our enquiry form: http://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/ourfirm/contacts/enquiryfo....

Useful links:

Turkey - Holiday Illness and Accidents Abroad - http://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/services/holidayclaims/tur...

Holiday Compensation - http://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/services/holidayclaims/hol...

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Simpson Millar LLP Solicitors have been assisting consumers with holiday claims for many years and have an excellent track record of obtaining the maximum compensation amounts for holiday makers.

Simpson Millar LLP have been acting for clients for over 150 years and are accredited with Investors in People and Lexcel quality standards.