Seven foreigners were hospitalized in Fiji after drinking cocktails at a hotel bar, authorities reported on Monday. The cause of the illness is currently unknown, and authorities indicated that it was too early to determine if the alcohol was adulterated.
The group fell ill on Saturday after consuming drinks at the five-star Warwick hotel in the city of Sigatoka, which included Australians and an American, according to local media. They were hospitalized after showing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and neurological problems, said Jemesa Tudravu, a spokesperson for the Fijian Ministry of Health. The seven individuals remained hospitalized on Monday at Lautoka Hospital in stable condition, said Fijian Tourism Minister Viliame R. Gavoka in a statement.
David Sandoe, an Australian who said his daughter and granddaughter were hospitalized, told Sky News Australia that his family members had already been cleared to be discharged.
According to local media reports on Sunday, the illness is suspected to be due to alcohol poisoning, similar to what happened in Laos last month when six tourists died after consuming contaminated drinks.
However, Tudravu stated that no cause had been identified in Fiji yet. The Police have ordered toxicology tests and are awaiting results. Gavoka mentioned that no similar cases had been reported at the hotel or in the island nation of 930,000 inhabitants in the South Pacific.