Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Support Investigation after Benidorm E-Coli Claims
10/12/2009
Travel litigation lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have welcomed the news that an investigation by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) could lead to “urgent action” being taken to prevent a repeat of an E-Coli outbreak in Benidorm.
Irwin Mitchell is currently representing E-Coli claims for a number of tourists who visited the resort during November after the HPA was informed of 14 cases of the potentially fatal illness that were diagnosed amongst Benidorm holidaymakers returning to the UK.
Clive Garner, who heads the Irwin Mitchell travel team said today: “I am deeply concerned to hear about the outbreak of E-Coli 0157 at this resort. This condition can, in some cases, be fatal or can leave its victims with consequences including serious brain or kidney damage.
“All too often we see the results of this illness amongst our clients many of whom have their own lives and the lives of their families devastated by its effects.
“We have been instructed by a number of people who recently returned from Benidorm and who have been diagnosed with E-coli by their GPs and so I welcome the investigation currently being undertaken by the Health Protection Agency. Urgent action may prevent further illness. Clearly the source of the problem needs to be identified as a priority and action taken to eliminate the risk of others falling victim to this condition. Until this occurs, visitors to Benidorm are advised to be cautious."
One Irwin Mitchell client, Jodie Davies, a 27 year old telesales advisor from Clwyd, travelled to the resort in November with her friend Nina Mclaren, age 26. On her return to the UK she suffered agonising stomach cramps and consulted with her GP. After a number of tests she was diagnosed with E-coli. She said: “The whole ordeal has been so distressing and painful that I really do wish we had never gone on holiday at all, it certainly feels like we haven’t had one.
“We both began to suffer symptoms when we were back in the UK. I was unable to return to work for 13 days which was extremely frustrating. Nina has children and she was very concerned that she could pass the infection on to them.
“To learn that there were so many other people that fell ill with the same thing is a real worry. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone so it’s a relief to hear that there is an investigation into where the source was. I hope they find it soon so that no one else has to go through what Nina and I did.
Garner continued: “It must have been extremely distressing for Miss Davies and Miss Mclaren who were looking forward to a long weekend and a bit of sun, not a potentially fatal illness.
“The delay in the onset of symptoms with E-coli is such that, luckily, they had returned to the UK before they began to suffer and were able to consult their local GP’s, but there remains the concern that these and the other 12 cases reported to the HPA are just the tip of the iceberg and we are seeing a growing number of enquiries about the outbreak.”
The Health Protection Agency is currently working with the Spanish Authorities to thoroughly investigate the outbreak and is also urging caution to tourists visiting Benidorm.
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