Named, bug ‘that hit Egypt tragedy hotel’

TWO guests evacuated from the Egyptian hotel where a British couple died last week claim they have an infection known as shigella.

The mother and daughter were among hundreds who left the resort in Hurghada after John and Susan Cooper, pictured, died suddenly just hours apart.

The pair who have fallen ill are part of a family of four, all of whom became unwell on the Thomas Cook holiday, their lawyer Nick Harris said. Since the deaths of Mr Cooper, 69, and his wife, 63, from Burnley, Lancashire, dozens of guests have claimed they were taken ill at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic hotel.

Shigella is a contagious cause of food poisoning which is said to kill hundreds of thousands a year worldwide.

Samples showed the mother and daughter had the bacterial infection, a health officer told The Daily Telegraph.

Thomas Cook insisted its customers’ safety and wellbeing was its priority.