Illness Strikes Multiple Tourists at Fiji Resort

Seven foreign tourists in Fiji were hospitalized after drinking cocktails at a luxury resort, prompting an investigation.

At a Glance

Seven foreigners, including four Australians, were hospitalized after drinking at Warwick Resort.
The symptoms included nausea, vomiting, and neurological issues.
The incident was linked to cocktails from one of the resort’s bars.
Fiji authorities are investigating, but toxicology results show no evidence that drinks were altered.
Travel advisories were updated after the incident, warning about potential drink spiking and methanol poisoning.

Incident at Warwick Resort

A concerning health incident unfolded at the Warwick Resort on Fiji’s Coral Coast, where seven foreign tourists were hospitalized after consuming cocktails at one of the resort’s bars. The affected individuals, including four Australians, one American, and two foreign residents of Fiji, experienced symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and neurological issues, initially raising suspicions of alcohol poisoning.

Fiji’s tourism minister, Viliame Gavoka, stated that this appears to be an isolated event and is currently under investigation. Gavoka also provided an update on the incident on Wednedsay, December 18, sharing that toxicology results showed no indication that the cocktails were tampered with. According to Gavoka, this is good news for Fiji’s tourism industry, but the cause of the illness remains unknown for now.

Seven tourists, including four Australians, were hospitalized after drinking a cocktail at the Warwick Fiji resort on the south coast of Viti Levu island in Fiji https://t.co/2GWHAwrUfU pic.twitter.com/GZtNDBkPNt

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 16, 2024

Government and Tourism Response

Fiji’s government and tourism industry were quick to respond to the incident, emphasizing that it appeared to be an isolated case. Viliame Gavoka, Fiji’s tourism minister, initially described it as an “extremely isolated incident” and stated, “We don’t think anything untoward happened.” However, the incident prompted a revision of travel advice for Fiji, with warnings about the potential risks of drink spiking and methanol poisoning.

The incident drew immediate comparisons to a recent methanol poisoning case in Laos that resulted in tourist deaths. However, Fiji tourism chief Brent Hill emphasized that the Fiji case is different and “a long way from that.”

Current Status and Advice for Tourists

As of December 16, two of the seven people affected by the incident were still in the hospital, but in stable condition. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade went as far as to its travel advice for Fiji, urging tourists to be cautious of drink spiking and methanol poisoning.

While this incident has raised concerns, it’s important to note that no other similar illness reports have been noted at the resort or elsewhere in Fiji. The investigation continues, and authorities are working to preserve the safety of visitors to the popular tourist destination.