Key detail in Fiji poisonings as tourists hospitalised after drinking pina coladas
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A key detail has emerged in the case of seven tourists who were hospitalised in a mystery poisoning in Fiji. The group fell ill on Saturday after drinking cocktails at the five-star Warwick resort near the town of Sigatoka. They suffered nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms.
Fiji's deputy prime minister and tourism minister Viliame Gavoka previously confirmed "no illicit substances or methanol were found in the ingredients or liquor samples", meaning there was "no evidence of alcohol poisoning". He has now revealed "a lot" of pina coladas were served to the busy resort bar on the night of the incident - but it was only the seven tourists who became ill. He also confirmed the bar was "very full" on Saturday evening, and that the on-duty bartender had a good reputation with 16 years of experience.
"A lot of people drank pina coladas but it only affected these six or seven people," Gavoka said. All seven tourists have now made full recoveries. Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill said authorities had gone through CCTV and spoken to the bartender. He said it was "quite mystifying" that only seven people were affected. He told Sunrise: "We have never had something like this occur before.".
News outlets had reported the cause was suspected alcohol poisoning, similar to the case in Laos last month when six tourists - including two Australian teenagers - died after consuming drinks tainted with methanol. Alcohol poisoning is common in some poorly regulated tourist destinations, where reputable brands of spirits are often substituted for locally distilled ethanol. Methanol can be an unintended by-product of unprofessional distillation.
