Holiday illness in Tunisia

Tunisia, situated on the north coast of Africa, is a popular holiday destination. The vast majority of holidaymakers who book holidays in Tunisia enjoy good food, facilities and accommodation. However, there are still far too many complaints about sexual harassment, poor standards of health and safety, inappropriate behaviour and dirty swimming pools. One of the most common complaints is about the food. Many hotels in Tunisia offer all-inclusive deals, and food is served buffet-style. If food is left out at incorrect temperatures it can harbour bacteria which cause food poisoning and Norovirus. Symptoms include: Diarrhoea, Gastroenteritis, Stomach Cramps and Vomiting, and hundreds of complaints are made to tour operators each year, following holiday illness in Tunisia.

To help avoid food poisoning or Salmonella in Tunisia, ensure  you take the necessary medications with you, in case of a stomach bug.  When you travel to a new destination, the foods that they serve may not necessarily  result in food poisoning, but your stomach may still not agree with the foods. Some of the next steps may seem like they should be common sense but when people are on holiday they tend to try new things, which could create a problem.

During your holiday in Tunisia, make sure that every piece of meat and seafood you eat is properly cooked as this will kill many of the bacteria that the meat may have had on it prior to cooking.  Also ensure that the food (particularly buffet-food) is fresh and served at the correct temperatures. Sometimes the food on these buffet tables may have been sitting out for hours in the heat and these foods become incredibly susceptible to disease and bacteria.

Eggs are also a food to be careful with or even avoid during your holiday in Tunisia. All it takes is one bad egg mixed with dozens of good ones to make dozens of people sick with one meal. The last step you need to remember may be the most important during your holiday. During excursions in Tunisia, it is always tempting to try their local delicacies but it is important to remember that the restaurants may not be subject to inspections or the same sanitary laws as in the UK. Many times you will find that these restaurants use tap water to wash their raw vegetables and fruits which can cause gastric illness if you are not used to it.

Recent outbreaks of food poisoning and Norovirus in Tunisia have been reported at: The Hotel Riviera, Port El Kantaoui, July, 2009. If you have been encouraged to contact your tour operator regarding any complaint you might have against your hotel in Tunisia, make sure you don´t accept any type of voucher, cheque or monetary compensation before you speak to a regulated personal injury solicitor in the  UK, or you could be fobbed off with less compensation than you are due.