An examination is being carried out by a hygiene expert at a Caribbean hotel where dozens of UK holiday-makers have fallen ill during their stay.
An examination is being carried out by a hygiene expert at a Caribbean hotel where dozens of UK holiday-makers have fallen ill during their stay.
The guests who have been taken sick are staying at the Bahia Principe San Juan hotel in the Dominican Republic.
The guests who have been taken sick are staying at the Bahia Principe San Juan hotel in the Dominican Republic.
Tour operator Thomas Cook says "a considerable number" of travellers have been affected by the sickness and diarrhoea bug.
Tour operator Thomas Cook says "a considerable number" of travellers have been affected by the sickness and diarrhoea bug.
The Federation of Tour Operators has been asked to investigate the cause.
The Federation of Tour Operators has been asked to investigate the cause.
Valerie and Andrew Bembridge from Lincolnshire paid more than £2,000 to stay at the hotel.
Valerie and Andrew Bembridge from Lincolnshire paid more than £2,000 to stay at the hotel.
Mrs Bembridge fell ill first and was taken to hospital accompanied by her husband and their nine-year-old son.
Mrs Bembridge fell ill first and was taken to hospital accompanied by her husband and their nine-year-old son.
"Obviously I was in a bad way and my husband started vomiting and came over with a fever.
"Obviously I was in a bad way and my husband started vomiting and came over with a fever.
"Soon after he'd vomited my son went down with diarrhoea, so all three of us were retained in the hospital."
"Soon after he'd vomited my son went down with diarrhoea, so all three of us were retained in the hospital."
The Bembridges were discharged after two days and cut short their holiday to fly home.
The Bembridges were discharged after two days and cut short their holiday to fly home.
But they claim hundreds of guests at the hotel complex have been affected by the bug and are desperate to leave but are still too ill to be declared fit to fly.
But they claim hundreds of guests at the hotel complex have been affected by the bug and are desperate to leave but are still too ill to be declared fit to fly.
A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook said it was working with the Federation of Tour Operators to understand the cause of the illness.
A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook said it was working with the Federation of Tour Operators to understand the cause of the illness.
She said an independent consultant had been sent by the federation to the hotel to carry out a comprehensive hygiene review.
She said an independent consultant had been sent by the federation to the hotel to carry out a comprehensive hygiene review.
No-one from the hotel was available for comment.
No-one from the hotel was available for comment.
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