Foreigners in Fiji hospital after suspected alcohol poisoning happymamay

Seven foreigners in Fiji have been sent to hospital on suspicion of alcohol poisoning after drinking cocktails at a five-star resort bar.

Four of them were Australian tourists, aged between 18 and 56. One is an American and two are foreigners living in Fiji, according to local media reports citing the Ministry of Health.

Some were previously reported to be in serious condition, but local officials say their symptoms have since improved and all are now in stable condition.

The incident comes weeks after Six tourists were killed in the Southeast Asian country of Laos Due to suspected methanol poisoning.

Brent Hill, Fiji’s head of tourism, told RNZ they were fully aware of the Laos incident, but added that the situation in Fiji was “far from that”.

The seven people are believed to have been drinking cocktails at the Warwick Fiji Resort bar on the Coral Coast on Saturday evening local time. Shortly thereafter, they developed symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms.

They were initially taken to Sigatoka Hospital and later transferred to Lautoka Hospital, according to the Fiji Times.

A 56-year-old Australian woman was under constant monitoring in hospital and a 19-year-old woman, also from Australia, suffered “serious medical seizures”, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that two other Australian women, aged 49 and 18, were in critical but less serious condition.

At least one local person is also believed to have been taken to hospital due to the same incident, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported.

Warwick Fiji Hotel said in a statement to the BBC that they are taking the matter “very seriously” and are “conducting a comprehensive investigation” while awaiting a “test result report” from health authorities “to collect all necessary information.”

Fiji Police are said to be investigating the circumstances of the incident.

An Australian Foreign Affairs Department spokesman told the BBC that two Australian families in Fiji were receiving consular assistance.

A New Zealand Foreign Ministry spokesman told the BBC that it had “received no requests for assistance” after the apparent alcohol poisoning incident.

The BBC also understands that no Britons were affected by the incident.

“There’s a real terrifying feeling that we’ve seen it before,” Australian Minister Jason Clare told the ABC. Had two 19 year old Australian girls He died of suspected methanol poisoning in the Laos incident.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has advised tourists to be “alert to potential risks related to high rates of binge drinking and methanol poisoning through consumption of alcoholic beverages in Fiji”.

Tourists should “seek urgent medical assistance if they suspect high levels of alcohol consumption,” the guidance said.