Tourists in a Fiji luxurious five-star resort were hospitalized with alcohol poisoning, the governments of Australia and Fiji said. Seven tourists, including four Australians and one American were reported to have become ill after consuming cocktails at the Warwick Fiji Hotel.
The Warwick is on the southern coast of Viti Levu island, the largest of the islands in Fiji and home to the capital city of Suva, as well as the majority of Fiji's residents.
"This is an extremely isolated incident that affected only these seven guests at a specific bar within the hotel," the government of Fiji said in a statement. "We understand the concern, but we wish to emphasize that the tourism experience in Fiji is generally safe, and we acted immediately to try to determine the cause of why these guests, at this specific hotel, fell ill."
The hotel management said it was investigating the incident and that it has not changed ingredients or the quality of the beverages served to guests. "Our primary focus right now is to care for the guests who are currently in the hospital," one of the hotel managers told the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation.
Australia's Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said at a press conference that consular officials were assisting the victims and their families, while Fiji's police have launched an investigation into the poisoning. "Our thoughts are with the friends and family of those affected. There is no doubt these are very difficult days for them," said Chalmers.
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Meanwhile, the Australian government updated its travel advisory for Fiji, now including a general warning about the risk of alcohol poisoning. "If Australians are traveling, be very alert to potential risks related to drink spiking and alcohol poisoning," said Chalmers.
Last month, six foreign tourists died in Laos after consuming counterfeit alcohol containing methanol. The United States and other countries issued travel warnings to their citizens at the time.
Methanol, a toxic chemical sometimes found in counterfeit alcohol produced illegally, can cause blindness and even death if consumed in large quantities.
The U.S. travel advisory stated, "Alcoholic beverages and drinks should only be purchased from licensed liquor stores, bars, and hotels. Avoid homemade alcoholic drinks. Check for signs of tampering or counterfeiting on bottles of spirits, such as poorly printed labels or misspelled text."