Solicitors Search for Virus Victims

Whilst staying at the Rex Turtle Beach Resort Hotel in Tobago, 60 holiday makers out of 350 people staying at the hotel, came down with a vomiting and diarrhoea virus in January of this year.

15 Guests complained to Hotel officials that they were feeling ill on 30th January. The following day a further 28 made complaints.

Days afterwards the island’s chief medical officer Dr Melville visited the Hotel with his team to investigate. The hotel was advised to close down their kitchen because traces of the prevalent Norwalk Virus were found in stool samples which had been collected from infected guests. The team also looked at samples of water, and food, which were taken away to their laboratories in Port of Spain.

The kitchen remained closed, after Public Health Inspectors had made 18 recommendations for work to be done. Apparently this is not the first time there has been an outbreak at the hotel. There have been similar outbreaks on at least two occasions a few years ago.

Some of the infected guests were travelling with Virgin Holidays who have made offers of settlement to some of the guests.

Abney Garsden McDonald solicitors who are acting for two of the victims are anxious to trace not only guests from the hotel, but also other sufferers, in order to confirm what went on. A free phone number has been launched for any enquiries - 0800 7835969. For further details a special page has been set up on their website http://www.abneys.co.uk/News(TurtleBeach)(07).htm

Ashley Singer, the victim’s solicitor said, “It is awful that these holidaymakers had their vacation ruined by an illness which was not their fault. We are trying to contact others who suffered in order to strengthen our case.”.

If you think you can help, contact Ashley Singer by email.

27th March 2007