Seven foreigners in Fiji were sent to the hospital with suspected poisoning after drinking pina coladas at a five-star resort bar, local authorities said, UNN reports citing the BBC.
Details
Five of them are tourists, one from the United States and the rest from Australia, aged 18 to 56. The other two are foreigners living in Fiji, according to local media reports citing the Ministry of Health.
Earlier reports said that some of them were seriously ill, but local authorities said on Monday that their condition had improved and some of them would be discharged.
The incident comes a few weeks after the deaths of six tourists in the southeast Asian country of Laos due to alleged methanol poisoning.
Fiji's tourism chief, Brent Hill, told RNZ that they were well aware of the incident in Laos, but added that the case in Fiji was "far from it.
Shortly after drinking a rum cocktail at the Warwick Fiji resort on the Coral Coast, seven guests experienced nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms.
They were first taken to Sigatoka Hospital and then transferred to Lautoka Hospital, the Fiji Times reports.
Fiji's Minister of Tourism, Viliami Gavok, emphasized that this was an "extremely isolated incident" and that the resort stated that "they did not engage in practices such as replacing ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests.
A preliminary investigation is underway and no new cases have been reported, authorities said.
The Warwick Fiji Hotel said in a statement to the BBC that it was aware of the "suspected alcohol poisoning" and was taking it "very seriously." The hotel said it was "conducting a thorough investigation" while awaiting a "test report" from health authorities to "gather all relevant information.
The Fiji police are reportedly investigating the circumstances of the incident.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has advised tourists to "be vigilant about the potential risks associated with spiking drinks and methanol poisoning when drinking alcoholic beverages in Fiji.
The guide says that tourists should "seek medical attention immediately if you suspect that something else has been mixed into the drink.