More than 100 tourists, including a 15-month-old baby and seven children, fell ill with suspected salmonella poisoning at the four-star Izan Cavanna Hotel in La Manga, Spain. The outbreak, which began after lunch on Saturday, has left guests with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and fever.
Initially, authorities reported 28 cases, but the number quickly rose as more guests developed symptoms. Twenty people, including children and a pregnant woman, were rushed to Santa Lucia Hospital in nearby Cartagena. A temporary field hospital was also set up at the seafront hotel to treat affected guests.
Guests have pointed to a fish dish and a spinach-filled pasta dish at the hotel’s buffet as possible sources of contamination, though officials have not confirmed which meal caused the illness. Ambulances were seen arriving continuously from Saturday afternoon, with some guests receiving intravenous fluids in their rooms.
Many families have left the hotel early after lodging official complaints. Some guests expressed frustration that new arrivals were not informed of the situation before having lunch at the buffet, which has since been closed pending investigation.
Health inspectors have collected samples from the hotel kitchen as part of an ongoing investigation, treating the outbreak as probable salmonella poisoning. The hotel has yet to release an official statement addressing the incident.
Salmonella infection typically manifests within six hours to six days after ingestion and can last four to seven days. Severe cases can lead to complications such as bloodstream infections or long-term effects like reactive arthritis, though these are rare.
