Seven tourists, including four Australians, were hospitalized in a possible case of alcohol poisoning at a resort in the Fiji Islands, Australian and Fijian governments announced today.
The tourists fell ill after consuming a cocktail at a resort on the southern coast of Viti Levu Island, the Fijian government said in a statement.
Local media identified the resort as Warwick Fiji on the Coral Coast, a popular area for foreign tourists.
“This is an extremely isolated incident that affected only these seven guests in a specific bar within the resort,” the Fijian government stated.
Last month, six foreign tourists died after consuming contaminated alcohol in Laos.
The resort’s management announced that no ingredients were replaced, nor was the quality of the drinks served to guests altered, the statement added.
“While we understand the concern, we want to emphasize that tourism in Fiji is very safe, and we acted promptly to try to identify the cause that led to the illness of these guests,” it was emphasized.
Australia’s Minister for the Economy, Jim Chalmers, said in a press conference that consular officials are assisting those affected along with their families, while Fiji’s police are leading an investigation into the poisoning.
A Sydney teenager and her mother are flying home tonight after suffering alcohol poisoning from pre-mixed cocktails at a Fiji resort, part of a group of 7 people, including 2 other Australians, who were hospitalized. https://t.co/OF81oZXOfr #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/BTxPmXFSNa
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) December 16, 2024
“We are thinking of the friends and families of those affected. This is undoubtedly a very unpleasant time for them,” he said.
The Australian government updated its travel advisory for Fiji to include a warning about the risk of contaminated alcohol and generally cautioned Australians about the risk of alcohol poisoning while traveling.
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