Neil and Laverne Hunter, from Ballynahinch, arrived at the Bahia Principe hotel in San Juan, Dominican Republic - where some 200 tourists claim to have fallen ill - on June 18 for their three-week holiday when they became unwell.

The pair had been there for only a day when they contracted the bug.

"We literally just got there when we got sick," Mr Hunter said.

"We met this couple who were also sick and who told us there had been some sort of outbreak. People were so sick they had to be taken to hospital. We saw this woman who had a baby which was in real distress. No one seemed to know what was wrong with everyone one."

By the end of the first day, the newlyweds were confined to their hotel room.

The pair were unable to keep any fluids or solids down and were reduced to eating just bread and water.

"We were too scared of eating anything else," Mr Hunter said.

"My wife was really bad. She could not breathe and she had terrible cramps in her stomach.

"We ended up going to the doctor after the first day. He put us on antibiotics and painkillers.

"We also had to cancel things. We were meant to go swimming with the dolphins. Normally when you cancel pre-booked activities you can't get your money back but they gave us our money back straight away. There were just too many people who were sick."

The honeymooners continued to stay at the hotel, hoping their situation would improve, but by the end of their second week they decided to head home, despite still suffering from the mysterious bug. "We weren't getting any better so I got us a flight home a week early," he said. " My wife was still sick a week and a half after we got back."

Mr Hunter estimates there were probably around 200 tourists who had been affected by the outbreak. The couple have also been contacted by a solicitor representing other people who fell ill while at the resort and still do not know what bug they had.

"We are hoping to get some sort of compensation," he said. " It ruined our honeymoon."

The couple are planning a new honeymoon in October.