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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46. Legionnaires Disease
Legionnaires' disease is an uncommon form of pneumonia caused by the legionella bacterium. The majority of cases are reported as single (isolated) cases but outbreaks can occur. All ages can be affected but the disease mainly affects people over 50 years of age, and generally men more than women. Smokers and the immunocompromised are at a higher risk. The early symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include a 'flu-like' illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Sometimes diarrhoea occurs and confusion may develop. Deaths occur in 10-15% of the general population and may be higher in some groups of patients. The incubation period normally ranges from 2 to 10 days. In rare cases some people may develop symptoms as late as three weeks after exposure. People become infected when they inhale legionella bacteria which have been released into the air in aerosolised form from a contaminated source. Once in the lungs the bacteria multiply and cause either pneumonia or a less serious flu like illness (Pontiac fever). The bacteria are widely distributed in the environment. They can live in all types of water including both natural sources such as rivers and streams, and artificial water sources such as water towers associated with cooling systems, hot and cold water systems and spa pools. They only become a risk to health when the temperature allows the legionellae to grow rapidly, such as in water systems which are not properly designed, installed and/or maintained.
47. Limitation Periods
Under the current Law of England & Wales you must become aware of the time period within which you must bring your case before the court. If you fail to bring your case within the stated timeframe, then you will be disbarred from making a claim at court. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, and you made your contract in those areas, you must check local laws for any variation on these periods. Holiday Illness or Accidents occurring on a ship or aircraft are subject to the limitation periods within the Athens or Montreal (Warsaw) Conventions. Holiday Claims arising outside the UK are also subject to limitation periods within foreign jurisdictions which are sometimes shorter than UK limitation periods.
48. Listeria
Listeria is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease. Healthy adults are likely to experience only mild infection, causing flu-like symptoms or gastroenteritis. However, listeria infection can occasionally lead to severe blood poisoning (septicaemia) or meningitis. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to listeria. It is particularly dangerous in pregnancy as although the illness is unlikely to be serious for the mother, it can cause miscarriage, premature delivery or severe illness in a newborn child.
49. Lyme Borreliosis
Human beings become infected after being bitten by hard-bodied ticks ( Ixodes species) that are infected with B. burgdorferi. Ticks become infected when they feed on birds or mammals that carry the bacterium in their blood.
50. Lyme Disease
Human beings become infected after being bitten by hard-bodied ticks ( Ixodes species) that are infected with B. burgdorferi. Ticks become infected when they feed on birds or mammals that carry the bacterium in their blood.
51. Malaria
Malaria is a preventable, life-threatening disease transmitted by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. There are four types of malaria that affect humans: Plasmodium falciparum (which is responsible for the vast majority of malaria deaths), Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae.
52. Misrepresentation (Contract Law)
A statement within the contract which is untrue will be a misrepresentation and the contract can be cancelled or the other party can make a claim for compensation.
53. Mistake (Contract Law)
A mistake in contract can be made either mutually, unilaterally or via a common mistake.
54. MoneyClaims Online
This is an extension of the Small Claims Court and allows a Claimant to register their claim online. This service is also provided by the UK Courts Service.
55. Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are part of the insect order Diptera, the two-winged flies. Adult mosquitoes are thin, slender-bodied insects, measuring 4 - 10mm in length. They have characteristic scale-covered wings and a long feeding mouth-part (the proboscis). They are one of a number of blood-feeding insects and are often confused with midges, horse-flies, and black-flies. Many different species of mosquito are present in the UK.
56. Non Est Factum (Contract Law)
This means ‘not his deed’. This is a plea made by one party that they have signed the document by mistake. If they are successful, then the contract will be void.
57. Norovirus
Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses are found in the gastrointestinal tract and readily spread from person-to-person. Environmental contamination is common, and spread can occur from food (molluscs in particular) and water. Sometimes referred to as ‘winter vomiting disease’, they are the leading cause of outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the UK. Characterised by diarrhoea and vomiting (often projectile) with sudden onset following an incubation period of 24–48 h. Highly contagious.
58. Norwalk-like Virus
Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses are found in the gastrointestinal tract and readily spread from person-to-person. Environmental contamination is common, and spread can occur from food (molluscs in particular) and water. Sometimes referred to as ‘winter vomiting disease’, they are the leading cause of outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the UK. Characterised by diarrhoea and vomiting (often projectile) with sudden onset following an incubation period of 24–48 h. Highly contagious.
59. Offer (Contract Law)
An offer is an expression by one party to a contract to another, with intention that it should become binding on both parties as soon as it has been accepted by the other party
60. Package Travel Regulations
The Package Travel Regulations were created following a European Directive (90/314/EEC), which answered numerous holiday complaints throughout Europe, of the lack of redress a consumer had in a Package Holiday contract. The Directive was adopted by the UK in the form of the regulations on the 31st December 1992 and they have had considerable impact on the rights of consumers in this country. The Regulations set out how the parties to the contract may be identified and goes onto deal with what information should be provided to the customer at the beginning of the contract. It also sets out the terms and extent of liability a tour operator has toward a holidaymaker.
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.
