Personal Injury Solicitors

Investigations are underway after 60 children developed vomiting and diarrhoea on a flight from Dubai to London’s Heathrow.

The children had been singing in South Africa as part of the children’s choir Only Kids Aloud, which is based in South Wales, and were returning to the UK after performing in concerts in Cape Town.

The plane was met by four ambulances as it landed at Heathrow, as well as a rapid response bike and a hazardous materials unit.

Some children were treated on the tarmac and 11 children were taken to Hillingdon hospital in west London. Just five members of the choir did not develop symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea ? which are classic symptoms of food poisoning.

Investigations are now taking place into what caused the sudden outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea on board the flight from Dubai. The children are all aged from 10 to 14 and were flying on board an Emirates Airbus A380. The airbus has 17 lavatories, but other passengers had to share these with the children during the seven-hour flight from Dubai.

A spokesman for the Emirates airline said:

“We're providing the affected passengers with all possible support and are working closely with the local authorities to investigate the issue.”

Holiday Food Poisoning

Holiday food poisoning infections such as Campylobacter can take up to 10 days to develop, but some food poisoning infections such as Salmonella can take hold just hours after eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Some of the most common holiday food poisoning infections are:

? Amoebic dysentery
? Campylobacter
? Cryptosporidium
? E.Coli
? Giardia Lamblia
? Norovirus
? Salmonella
? Shigella sonnei.

Holiday food poisoning can be caused by bacterial, viral or parasitic infections, which result from food or drinking water becoming infected. The most common infections result from the faecal-oral route ? when human or animal faeces contaminates food or drinking water, or in the case of the parasitic infection Cryptosporidium, swimming pool water.

Insects, birds, small lizards and other animals accessing food on open-air buffets or in kitchens can spread infections rapidly.

Gastric infections can also be spread by catering staff or other diners not washing their hands after using the lavatory and then touching food on buffets, serving utensils or other surfaces, including plates and glasses which have not been washed properly, or dining room tables.

Scrupulous hygiene ? including washing hands after using the lavatory and before touching food ? are crucial to preventing holiday food poisoning.

However, in holiday hotels where hygiene and cleanliness are poor and food is not correctly stored or not properly cooked, gastric illness caused by bacterial infections such as Salmonella and E.coli can soon spread among guests and staff.

Duncan Lewis Holiday Illness Solicitors

Claims for holiday illness such as food poisoning as well as holiday injuries as a result of accidents caused by another person fall under the area of law known as personal injury.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise holidaymakers or travellers how to make a no win no fee compensation claim for Holiday Illness and Accidents.

Claimants have three years from the date of injury to make a claim ? children can claim up to three years after the age of 18.

For expert legal advice on Holiday Illness & Accident Claims contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.