Martha Scott’s son, Joseph, was hospitalized for severe dehydration on the last night of their trip to Mexico. CBC
A group of Canadians is urging Mexican authorities to investigate after many guests fell ill at an all-inclusive resort.
Winnipeg photographer Joel Boily was at the resort in Playa del Carmen for a wedding. He estimates around 200 Canadians got sick, including nearly all 30 guests at the wedding he was photographing. His young children also suffered from severe vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.
"We arrived Wednesday, and by Friday, it was obvious this wasn't normal," Boily said. He believes it was food poisoning. "My two-year-old—things were looking bad. We were really panicking because we didn’t know where to get medical help."
A local doctor, called to treat someone in Boily's group, told them he had visited the resort several times and suspected contaminated water.
Boily and others have filed formal complaints with Mexican health authorities, demanding a full inspection of the resort’s facilities.
Resort Blames Seasonal Illness
A representative for the resort chain, which has locations in Spain and Mexico, said the sickness may be due to norovirus or seasonal flu spreading in Canada and the U.S. They also claimed the issue wasn’t limited to the resort but affected the local area.
Victor Azevedo, the bride’s uncle, was supposed to officiate the wedding but fell ill. "It ruined the whole trip. My niece’s wedding had to be postponed," he said. "She's three months pregnant. It was really dangerous. No one helped us."
Kyler Searle, from Saskatoon, arrived at the resort on February 12 for another wedding. He said 52 out of 55 people in his group got sick, including a one-year-old child and a pregnant woman.
"People were dropping like flies before the wedding," Searle said. "One groomsman fainted before walking down the aisle. He needed oxygen and missed the wedding."
Guests Say Resort Ignored Their Concerns
Many guests feel the resort didn’t take the situation seriously.
"If they had at least acknowledged that we weren’t having the trip we expected and offered any solutions, I might have let it go," Boily said. "But they did nothing."
Martha Scott, from Ontario, also fell ill. Her 10-year-old son, Joseph, was hospitalized overnight for dehydration before they flew home.
"The resort was unhygienic and poorly maintained," Scott said. "The water from my tap and toilet smelled like sewage."
Health Experts Weigh In
Dr. Tim Sly, an epidemiologist, said foodborne outbreaks are common at large resorts. "When many people eat in the same place, mistakes happen," he said.
Scott hopes authorities take action. "It’s a health issue, but also heartbreaking. People save for years for one vacation, only to have it turn into a nightmare," she said. "I wouldn’t wish this on anyone."
