Tourists Sickened After Having Drinks at Fiji Resort

Seven tourists at a luxury Fiji resort were hospitalized after suffering from illness.

At a Glance

Seven tourists, including Australians and an American, were hospitalized after drinking pina coladas at a resort.
Symptoms included nausea, vomiting, and neurological issues.
Authorities and the resort are investigating the cause; toxicology tests show no indication of drink tampering.
Australia issued travel advisories warning about risks of drink adulteration in Fiji.

Tourists Fall Ill in Fiji

Seven foreign tourists were hospitalized in Fiji after drinking at a luxury resort. The incidents occurred after the guests consumed cocktails at a bar located in the Warwick resort area near Sigatoka. The group of tourists included an American and four Australians, among others. Acute symptoms led to their immediate hospitalization.

Symptoms experienced were alarming, comprising nausea, vomiting, and neurological impairments as per various reports. Most of the affected individuals have been discharged, but two remained under medical care albeit in stable condition as of December 16.

Ongoing Investigation

The cause of the tourists’ sudden illness remains unclear. “The resort management has assured us that they have not engaged in practices such as substituting ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests,” said Viliame R. Gavoka following the incident. On Wednesday, Gavoka revealed that toxicology results did not show evidence that the drinks had been tampered with. As a result, authorities are still trying to determine what caused the illness.

This incident initially drew attention to a methanol-linked incident in Laos. Given these precedents, Australia revised its travel advisory, cautioning tourists about the possibility of spiked or methanol-poisoned drinks in Fiji.

The Warwick Fiji resort has been identified as the hotel at the centre of an incident in which seven people, including four Australians, fell ill with suspected alcohol poisoning. #7NEWS https://t.co/TGIjBXCqf8

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) December 15, 2024

Safety Measures for Tourists

The Australian government also stepped in to support affected nationals, providing consular assistance. Travelers were urged to adopt precautionary measures: “Don’t leave your drinks unattended, pay attention when your drinks are being mixed and get urgent medical help if you suspect that something is wrong,” advised Jim Chalmers.