SUVA: Fiji medical doctors have determined to discharge 5 of the seven sufferers – together with 4 Australians and an American – who had been hospitalised after consuming pina coladas at a luxurious lodge bar, the federal government mentioned on Monday (Dec 16).
All seven had been taken to hospital on Saturday night time affected by “nausea, vomiting and neurological signs”, in line with Fiji’s well being ministry.
They fell in poor health after consuming pina colada cocktails ready at a bar within the five-star Warwick Fiji resort on the Coral Coast, about 70km west of the capital Suva, officers mentioned.
A well being ministry spokesperson mentioned the seven company, aged from 18 to 56, included 4 Australians, one American and two others whose nationalities weren’t given.
One of many sufferers had been discharged on Sunday from the Sigatoka Hospital close to the lodge, mentioned the tourism minister, Viliame Gavoka.
The opposite six had been transferred to the bigger Lautoka Hospital on the island’s west coast, he mentioned, with two of them launched earlier on Monday and one other two set to depart later within the day.
The 2 sufferers remaining in Lautoka Hospital had been in a “steady situation” in intensive care, he advised a information convention.
Fiji’s well being ministry and police power had been investigating the trigger, Gavoka mentioned, including that outcomes from “crucial” toxicology assessments usually take three or 4 days.
“Everyone seems to be in a state of disbelief that this has occurred,” he mentioned.
Requested whether or not the sickness is perhaps associated to methanol poisoning, Gavoka mentioned that was “one thing that we do not imagine is feasible in Fiji”.
Whereas declining to invest in regards to the trigger, he mentioned it was a “very remoted incident”.
Fijian tourism, which attracts near one million folks every year, was “usually very protected”, he mentioned.
The minister mentioned he didn’t imagine it was the results of any deliberate motion.
The lodge bar concerned was “very busy” on the night, he added, however solely seven folks had been sickened by the pina coladas, which had been usually “fairly innocent”.
A spokesperson for the Warwick Fiji lodge mentioned it was conducting an investigation and ready for check outcomes from the well being authorities.
“At this second, we should not have conclusive particulars, however we’re dedicated to making sure the protection and well-being of our company,” the spokesperson mentioned.
Australia’s international ministry mentioned it was offering consular help to 2 households however declined additional remark citing “privateness obligations”.
In a separate incident in Laos final month, two Danish residents, an American, a Briton and two Australians died of suspected methanol poisoning following what native media mentioned was an evening out within the city of Vang Vieng.
