Food poisoning on safari

[ParsnipPuree]

Dh and I are on what's meant to be the trip of a lifetime. We've spent 4 days in a lodge where each night is an obscene amount. This is relevant because I thought I was safe eating fish here. The menu was made specifically for my dietary requirements and no one else had the fish I had.

Yesterday was freak weather conditions of 44 centigrade which is higher than normal. I woke up with severe runs and have been in bed all day. We're meant to be catching two small planes tomorrow to our next destination. I can't even get out of bed.

I obviously can't prove anything but this place is in the middle of nowhere so not eaten anywhere else.

Waiting for manager to speak to dh. Aibu to expect them to refund cost of today out of goodwill?

Do you have holiday insurance which you could claim on?

That's a really good idea, I'm not thinking straight. Will suggest to dh. Sent the first fish back as meant to be a white fish but was black, so they must've defrosted another piece.. but since it came 5 mins later I'm wondering how they did it so quickly

I doubt they’ll admit liability tbh. Do you have travel insurance? I’d ring them and seek advice regarding not being fit enough to travel tomorrow. Being ill on holiday is the worst, wishing you a speedy recovery!

Thank you so much. Yes we're covered on credit card but not sure how much for will see. Reputation is everything to them they don't advertise.

If you are in Africa, it is pretty standard to have diarrhoea at some point.

I'm usually very careful - avoiding salad, anything not cooked, anything that could be unwashed or anything that is not peeled, and no ice in the drinks unless you are in a very high end place where they make their ice from bottled water - there are places that do this but you are normally talking ultra luxury and you need to double check.

Even being ultra careful like that I think I've only been once maybe twice and not had diarrhoea at all for the whole trip.

add to the general food and water hygeniene issues exposure to new and different foreign bacteria and viruses it really isn't uncommon.

It maybe the fish but it could be anything else - did you have salad, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with tap water rather than bottled water, and so on.

Definitely tell them you think its the fish and have a good go at getting a refund but don't be suprised if you struggle to get anywhere.

if you are still ill when you get home, it is worth going to a tropical disease clinic and getting tested for Giardia

Are you taking malarone?

Cidylic,

Thank you.. dh and I have eaten exactly the same apart from that piece of fish. Yes it's a v high end place so would imagine they make ice from bottled water but will check. I do expect not to get food poisoning somewhere like this. Never heard of Giardia sounds grim. Not just diarrhoea, headache and aching limbs. Thanks for your advice though, very much appreciated and probably won't post again as feeling too bad!

I do expect not to get food poisoning somewhere like this.

I suppose what I was trying to say is that it may not in fact be food poisoning - it could be anything because diarrhoea is so common in travellers in Africa

and when you say 'a place like this' you can get it anywhere in reality because even if they have good food hygenie standards, there are a lot of people around who may be (for example) handling cutlery, touching glasses around the rim as they set them down, touching your luggage all of whom may have faecal matter traces on their hands - from (again) not throughly washing their hands, touching other peoples hands and so on. It's not just about the food but hopefully you'll feel better soon and once its all out (sorry!) you;ll be able to enjoy some of your safari.

I guess you're right cidylic. Only 8 other guests at the lodge none of whom are ill but many staff who I'd like to think have been trained but I guess it can happen.

Unfortunately you can get food poisoning anywhere. I got it in very top end hotels in India and Antigua and DH got it in a Michelin star restaurant in Venice. It’s shit but it happens and usually is short lived. Hope you feel better soon xx

Fish is suspect number 1 but it really could be anything. My family go to Africa a lot and last time we suspect they had cholera. A good dose of food poisoning can leave you with achy limbs but don't forget there are other bacteria just waiting to get at you.

I guess you're both right, you can get it anywhere. Feeling much better now, was a rough 48 hours felt like I was going to die. Dh told manager he expects to be refunded for two days.

Glad you're on the mend! What's the managers response been?

ExceededUsefulEconomicLife

"Glad you're on the mend! What's the managers response been?"

Sympathetic and without conceding too much, agreed that something would have to be done. Didn't try and deny responsibility.

I’ve had food poisoning from mussels at a Michelin starred restaurant. They denied it but the two of us that had the mussels were very ill.

It can happen anywhere. Very hard to prove it though unfortunately.

I thought i was safe at a nice place on the famous v&a waterfront in cape town and ordered seafood - oops! Never again

I had food poisoning from fish. I thought it was a bit cold, fried whitebait arrived flabby instead of crunchy. God was I ill.

I’ve had diarrhoea both times in Africa. First time, I think it may have been from eating bush meat - we ate impala, crocodile tail, wart hog and eland. They told us, it can be too rich for our stomaches. We took all the standard precautions.

Second time, it was from eating prawns in a top hotel in Nairobi. I don’t know what came over me - I just didn’t think!

My brother moved to China to live. He said and I quote "I was as loose as a goose for the first six months" 😁

If you have a headache it may be malaria - worth getting a blood test.

Some of my mother's friends were Indian. They lived here for 30 years. The husband was a doctor, so they had a good understanding of hygiene.

They said every time, they went back to India to visit family, they were ill. They said they weren't used to the bacteria - we are too clean here!

I went to China for 3 weeks and had no problems at all from the restaurants chosen by the tour company, although DD was ill after having a meal on room service in a Western standard hotel!

What about the habit of just searing fish though?

We're taking maleria tablets and haven't been bitten. Headache gone, just left with the runs, no appetite or energy!

Not from frozen though.

Fair point..