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Thomson faces legal battle from sick holidaymakers

Up to 300 Thomson Holidays customers are taking legal advice after falling violently ill while staying at the Hotel Riu Bachata, Dominican Republic.

All have similar symptoms to those suffered by 200 tourists in the same property last year.

Travel law firm Pannone and Partners is representing holidaymakers who became ill during May and June. All have reported gastroenteritis-type symptoms with “several” diagnosed with dysentery.

Head of travel law Andrew Morton said the epidemic is virtually identical to an outbreak last year among Thomson and Thomas Cook customers in the Bachata and neighbouring sister properties Hotel Riu Mambo and Hotel Riu Merengue.

The Bachata is exclusive to Thomson in the UK. Morton, who believes the hotel should be avoided until the situation has been resolved, said: “It seems we have a carbon copy of last year’s outbreak.”

Thomson is insisting any cancellations are subject to normal booking terms and conditions.

A spokesman said no-one is currently ill in the complex. Tests carried out during the outbreak revealed there was nothing wrong with the food, water and hygiene. The company instead blamed a viral infection.

Thomas Cook is still featuring both the Merengue and the Mambo hotels, where there are no reported problems, but First Choice Holidays admitted two of its 150 customers at the Merengue are ill, although their symptoms are yet to be connected with the outbreak.

The Dominican Republic Tourist Board is monitoring the situation but said it has no plans to shut any of the hotels at present.

Morton is handling the previous action from last summer brought by around 200 customers against both Thomas Cook and Thomson. It is expected to reach court before the end of the year.

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