Brit couple lost A STONE in weight each after holiday hell sickness bug
Luxury holiday turned to nightmare after illness confined couple to their room
A couple caught up in a horror sickness outbreak in Mexico lost a stone each in weight after the illness left them bed bound while on what should have been a dream holiday.
The couple were on a dream trip to the Riviera Maya resort when illness struck confining them to their room as they had to go to the toilet up to 30 times a day.
Sandra claims they were so ill they were unable to leave their room for six days.
The 48-year-old said she told holiday company Thomson about their illness via their 24-hour online help desk but only got a reply after they arrived back home.
Sandra said: "We have been all over the world and go on holiday a few times a year. But this was the worst holiday ever.
"People need to be aware what is going on out there. There is a real risk of people getting ill. If they just let people know about it they could better protect themselves.
"I don’t want anybody to go through what we did. It’s the worst I have ever felt. I have never complained in my life on holiday but this was awful.
"I can’t believe the only time I heard from Thomson was after I got home and they said they hoped I would be going on holiday with them again. That is not going to happen. We had planned to see all the sights but just ended up seeing the inside of a bathroom.”
UK Health officials have now issued warnings about visiting the area near Cancun with reports that 98 Brits have been struck down since the outbreak began in June.
The same resort suffered a similar outbreak last year .
Regional manager Sandra booked the two week luxury holiday with Lee at the Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort & Spa near Cancun expecting a relaxing break.
She suspects the illness may have been caused by cherries as the soft fruit is known to cause cyclospora food poisoning, which she and train driver Lee contracted.
She said: “I have never known anything like it. It was non stop. I had diarrhoea and cramps and my husband had the same and was vomiting as well.
"You couldn’t leave the room as we was constantly backwards and forwards to the bathroom. If one of us was in there the other would be shouting desperate to use it as well. It was on in one out”
When they got home they were so ill they had to take two extra weeks off work to recover and tests confirmed they had contracted cyclospora.
She added: “I had never heard of the bug but now I will never forget it.”
Cyclospora is spread through food and water tainted by infected human poo and causes vomiting and painful diarrhoea.
She says she then complained about her holiday to Thomson but they sent her a standard reply telling her the hotel had great reviews on TripAdvisor.
Miss Harper is now taking legal action against Thomson over her ruined stay.
A number of all inclusive hotels in the resort are also believed to be affected by the outbreak including the Thomson run four star Sensatori Resort Mexico and Hotel Royalton Riviera Cancun.
An investigation into the source of infection is being carried out by local health officials.
Nick Harris, Head of Travel Law at holiday claims specialists s is representing families caught up in the outbreak.
He said: "We have been contacted by people from a number of hotels where people have fallen ill like Ms Harper. It seems to be spreading like wildfire between venues.
"There are now more hotels where guests have reported being ill and the numbers are increasing by the hour.
I have never known anything like it. It was non stop.
Sandra Harper
"The local health authorities in the area are now trying to find the source of infection to try and reduce the number of victims.
"Tour operators need to do more to ensure standards of food are higher in resorts where they are sending tourists."
A spokesperson for Thomson said: "Public Health England has advised us of a number of sickness cases associated to an issue called cyclospora in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico. There is not a particular hotel, hotel chain or tour operator implicated and the source of the issue is still being investigated.
"We are working with relevant partners and authorities both in Mexico and the UK to ensure customer wellbeing and to investigate the matter. While it is believed it could be caused by a food product distributed in the region, we always encourage customers to follow guidance from official health bodies such as the NHS, which have up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad.
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