Greater than 100 tourists have fallen ailing following a suspected salmonella poisoning at a four-star hotel in Spain.
A 15-month-old baby and 7 children are amongst 20 victims rushed to hospital after the incident on the Izan Cavanna Hotel within the resort of La Manga near Murcia.
As many as 28 cases were reported initially, but by yesterday the variety of individuals with health problems had jumped to over 100 of the 800 guests.
The poisoning has escalated so quickly that a field hospital has also been arrange on the seafront hotel.
Guests have been struck down with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and even fever in some cases following a lunch on the hotel.
All children were taken to Santa Lucia Hospital within the nearby port city of Cartagena to be treated.
Health inspectors have taken samples from the kitchen on the hotel, which has now been closed, as a part of an ongoing investigation.
Regional government health sources said overnight they were treating it as a probable salmonella poisoning outbreak.
It was not immediately clear what number of British tourists are staying on the hotel, which describes itself online as one of the vital emblematic hotels on Spain’s Costa Calida.
It has a buffet restaurant now under investigation and a beach bar and restaurant in addition to an English pub which the hotel website is saying is temporarily closed.
The hotel published a Facebook post promoting its cocktails and mojitos early yesterday – but said nothing about its guests’ health problems on the social media site.
In response a Spanish holidaymaker staying on the hotel replied: ‘Hello, I’m still staying in room 826, and yesterday greater than 40 people were affected by food poisoning from a spoiled product on the buffet.
‘I’m on the Santa Lucia Hospital in Cartagena because my wife is considered one of those affected and she or he is eight months pregnant and has been admitted to the hospital.
‘I left the hotel at 4.30am on Sunday. I spoke with the hotel at 9am to tell them of the seriousness of the situation and my wife’s delicate condition, and now it’s 2.20pm and I still haven’t received a call from anyone on the hotel.
‘My belongings and my wife’s belongings are still within the room, as we’ve got a reservation until Monday.
‘I’m calling the hotel and nobody is answering the phone presently of day. We’d like answers.’
Izan Cavanna Hotel is yet to publish any official comment on its Instagram, Facebook or website.
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