Holiday Complaints and Holiday Illness Glossary
HolidayTravelWatch have compiled a list of the most common holiday illnesses, holiday diseases and those terms that apply to holiday complaints. We regularly add to this glossary, but we welcome any additions that you feel may help our site visitors. Please contact us if you wish to add to the glossary.
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1. ABTA
The principal trade body for the UK travel industry. This body campaigns on behalf of its members for legislative change for the benefit of its membership. It provides a Code of Conduct to govern the members’ relationship with its clients.
2. ABTA Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct created by ABTA which governs the contractual relationship between travel agents and tour operators and the travel consumer.
3. Acceptance (Contract Law)
Acceptance to a contract can be made by words or conduct and it has to be exactly on the same terms as the offer.
4. Adenovirus
Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that infect the membranes of the respiratory tract, the eyes, the intestines, and the urinary tract. There are several different types of adenovirus and different types cause different symptoms. Although adenoviruses usually cause respiratory illness, they can also cause diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, cystitis, and rashes. Adenoviral infections affect young children much more frequently than adults. Adenoviruses 40 and 41 are common causes of viral gastroenteritis (diarrhoea) in children.
5. Association of British Travel Agents
The principal trade body for the UK travel industry. This body campaigns on behalf of its members for legislative change for the benefit of its membership. It provides a Code of Conduct to govern the members’ relationship with its clients.
6. Avian Influenza
Avian influenza is a disease of birds caused by influenza viruses closely related to human influenza viruses. Transmission to humans in close contact with poultry or other birds occurs rarely and only with some strains of avian influenza. The potential for transformation of avian influenza into a form that both causes severe disease in humans and spreads easily from person to person is a great concern for world health. Avian flu often causes little or no disease in wild waterfowl but sometimes causes large outbreaks associated with high mortality in poultry. In these instances the term 'highly pathogenic avian influenza' (HPAI) is used. This form, which was first recognized in Italy in 1878, is extremely contagious in birds and rapidly fatal, with a mortality approaching 100%. Birds can die on the same day that symptoms first appear. Outbreaks in poultry may spread rapidly.
7. Bacillus
The spores of Bacillus bacteria commonly contaminate raw foods and food materials, particularly foods in contact with the soil or of vegetable origin. The spores of some species (especially Bacillus cereus and the ' Bacillus subtilis' group) survive cooking and can subsequently germinate and grow under favourable conditions, particularly those in warm kitchens. Subsequent consumption of foods in which large numbers of Bacillus spp. have grown can cause gastrointestinal illness, either by the consumption of pre-formed toxin or by toxins produced by these bacteria in the gut.
8. Botulism
Botulism is caused by botulinum toxin, a poison produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The organism is common in the soil and can survive in this environment as a resistant spore. There are three main types of botulism - food-borne botulism, intestinal botulism (which is due to proliferation of the organism in the gut) and wound botulism. Symptoms often begin with blurred vision and difficulty in swallowing and speaking, but diarrhoea and vomiting can also occur. The disease can progress to paralysis. Most cases will recover, but the recovery period can be many months. The disease can be fatal in 5-10% of cases; death is due to respiratory failure.
9. Brucellosis
Brucellosis, also known as undulant fever or Mediterranean fever, is caused by the bacterium Brucella. Brucellosis is a zoonosis (an infection acquired from animals). The most commonly affected animals are sheep and goats (with Brucella melitensis), cattle (with Brucella abortus), and pigs (with Brucella suis) Brucellosis has been virtually eliminated from most developed countries, but it is still endemic in Africa, the Middle East, central and south-east Asia, south America and in some Mediterranean countries. Humans can become infected by ingestion of unpasteurised milk or milk products, or via direct or indirect contact with infected animals.
10. Campylobacter
Two species account for the majority of infections: C. jejuni and C. coli. Illness is characterised by severe diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Undercooked meat (especially poultry) is often associated with illness, as is unpasteurised milk and untreated water. The majority of infections, however, remain unexplained by recognised risk factors for disease Campylobacter is found in raw and undercooked meat and poultry, and can also be spread by domestic pets and by person-to-person contact.
11. Capacity to Contract (Contract Law)
Minors (under18), drunks or those suffering from a mental disability do not have the capacity to make a contract, and as such the contract may be voidable, unenforceable or void.
12. Cholera
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.Cholera is spread by contaminated water and food. It generally occurs in regions of the world where there is no clean water or adequate sewage disposal. V. cholerae bacteria produce a toxin which is responsible for the severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and leg cramps characteristic of the disease. In its most extreme form, cholera can be fatal within hours. Cholera is caused by the O1 and O139 serogroups of V. cholerae. Other serogroups exist (and may sometimes cause skin infections in patients exposed to contaminated flood waters), however, these serogroups do not produce the disease known as cholera. Most healthy people infected with V. cholerae O1 and O139 do not become ill. When illness does occur, it is usually relatively mild and self limiting, and can be difficult to distinguish from other types of acute diarrhoea. Fewer than 10% of ill people develop ' cholera gravis' where profuse watery diarrhoea can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not given promptly. Cholera is prevalent in Central and South America, Africa and Asia. Sudden large outbreaks are usually caused by a contaminated water supply rather than by direct person-to-person contact.
13. Class or Group Actions
A Class/Group Action allows claims to be aggregated into one lawsuit for discovery, trial and/or settlement. In other words, it is where several people who have suffered the same or similar experience, can pursue together an action for compensation, sharing the evidence, the costs, the risks and the witnesses. It then makes it easier to challenge large corporate defendants.
14. Clostridium Difficile
Clostridium difficile infection is the most important cause of hospital-acquired diarrhoea. Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic bacterium that is present in the gut of up to 3% of healthy adults and 66% of infants. However, Clostridium difficile rarely causes problems in children or healthy adults, as it is kept in check by the normal bacterial population of the intestine. When certain antibiotics disturb the balance of bacteria in the gut, Clostridium difficile can multiply rapidly and produce toxins which cause illness. Clostridium difficile infection ranges from mild to severe diarrhoea to, more unusually, severe inflammation of the bowel (known as pseudomembranous colitis). People who have been treated with broad spectrum antibiotics (those that affect a wide range of bacteria), people with serious underlying illnesses and the elderly are at greatest risk. Clostridium difficile infection is usually spread on the hands of healthcare staff and other people who come into contact with infected patients or with environmental surfaces (e.g. floors, bedpans, toilets) contaminated with the bacteria or its spores. Spores are produced when Clostridium difficile bacteria encounter unfavourable conditions, such as being outside the body. They are very hardy and can survive on clothes and environmental surfaces for long periods.
15. Compensation for Holiday Claims
If your claim is successful, you will be awarded compensation. The amount of compensation will depend on the circumstances of the case. In holiday claims against tour operators, damages may be recovered for all or some of the following (please note this list is only intended to be a guide to what you can claim, you should always check with a solicitor who should be able to guide you further): • Diminution in holiday value: In other words, a sum to compensate you for the holiday you paid for but did not get. This award is generally capped at 100% of the holiday cost. • Loss of enjoyment of holiday/mental distress and anxiety: This can be assessed by reference to a daily rate which currently may be up to £150.00 per day or more for each day your holiday was affected, or a percentage of the holiday cost. • Pain, suffering and loss of amenity: You will be awarded damages assessed by reference to the duration and severity of any illness or injury and long term consequences. • Special damages and future losses: This includes any loss of earnings, travelling expenses, damaged or lost personal possessions, and any private medical or therapeutic expenses.
HTW has noted that amongst the submissions to the Committee on Toxicity (COT) it has been suggested that the symptoms highlighted by crew and passengers were akin to the condition of hyperventilation.
HTW has for many years received reports from concerned holiday makers or independent travellers as to the safety of their aircraft, ship or boat, train or road transport.
