Seven Foreigners in Fiji Hospitalized After Drinking Pina Coladas at Resort

Seven foreigners in Fiji ended up in hospital after they drank pina coladas at a resort bar and fell ill over the weekend, authorities confirmed Monday.

The cocktails were served at the five-star Warwick resort on Saturday, according to local news reports. It’s unclear if the rum-based drinks were served with tainted alcohol and the cause of the illnesses is not yet known.

Fiji’s tourism minister, Viliame R. Gavoka, told reporters that those hospitalized include four Australians and one American. The other two are foreigners living in Fiji. While five have been discharged, two people remain in hospital, conscious and in stable condition.

Jemesa Tudrave, a Fiji Health Ministry spokesperson, said those affected were hospitalized with vomiting, nausea and neurological symptoms.

The incident comes weeks after the deaths of six tourists in the South East Asian nation of Laos because of suspected methanol poisoning.

Fiji’s Tourism Chief Says Situation is ‘a Long Way From That’

Brent Hill, Fiji’s tourism chief, told RNZ that while they’re aware of the Laos case, Fiji’s situation is “a long way from that.”

Resort Investigation Underway

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 result report” from the health authorities to “gather all necessary information.”

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FAQs

What happened in Fiji?

Seven foreigners in Fiji ended up in hospital after they drank pina coladas at a resort bar and fell ill over the weekend, authorities confirmed Monday.

How many people were hospitalized?

Five people have been discharged, while two people remain in hospital, conscious and in stable condition.

What is the cause of the illness?

The cause of the illness is not yet known, but it is unclear if the rum-based drinks were served with tainted alcohol.

What is being done to investigate the incident?

The Warwick Fiji hotel is conducting a thorough investigation and is awaiting test result reports from the health authorities to gather all necessary information.

Conclusions

The incident in Fiji highlights the importance of ensuring the quality and safety of food and drinks in tourist areas. While the cause of the illness is still unknown, it is crucial that authorities and resort management take swift and decisive action to investigate the incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future.