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Texas young couple dies after contracting unidentified illness in Fiji - infectious disease ruled out - toxicology pending

tetano

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
A young and healthy Texas couple on a dream vacation in Fiji died suddenly after they both contracted a mysterious illness.
Family of David and Michelle Paul said the Fort Worth couple began feeling unwell the day before they were supposed to leave Fiji and return home two weeks ago.
?They knew something was going on in their body and were able to get to the hospital,? Michelle?s sister-in-law Tracey Calanog told local TV station KVUE.
?Anything can happen,? she added through tears.
...

https://nypost.com/2019/06/03/young-couple-dies-after-contracting-mystery-virus-in-fiji/
 
Media Statement on the Deaths of Two U.S. Citizens in Fiji



Home | News & Events | Media Statement on the Deaths of Two U.S. Citizens in Fiji


SUVA – For more than a week, the U.S. Embassy has been closely working with the Fiji government, police, and health officials in their investigation into the tragic deaths of two U.S. citizens while on holiday in Fiji. The Embassy has facilitated contact between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Fiji’s Ministry of Health to ascertain the causes of death and to assist in any related measures.

We appreciate the efforts made thus far by the Fijian authorities and stand ready to provide further assistance, if requested. At this point, we are not aware of any specific public-health threat to the community. We will provide updates as appropriate.

By U.S. Embassy Suva | 4 June, 2019

https://fj.usembassy.gov/media-state...izens-in-fiji/
 
[FONT=&quot]Fiji Sun‏Verified account @sun_fiji 15h15 hours ago More[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]5 Locals Under Observation After Mystery Illness Linked to US Couple’s Deaths

fijisun.com.fj/2019/06/04/5-locals-under-observation-after-mystery-illness-linked-to-us-couples-deaths/…[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]
D8LCRR3XUAAMocZ.jpg
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Fiji's Ministry of Health rule out influenza as cause of death for US couple, not leaving any stones unturned

10:36 pm GMT+12, 04/06/2019, Fiji

Fiji's Ministry of Health says influenza has been ruled out in the cause of death for the U.S couple David and Michelle Paul, that died last week in Nadi.

?Influenza has been ruled out, and at this stage we do not believe there is any risk to the public. It would be premature to speculate further on the cause of death until the investigation is complete.

?Monitoring of the small number of staff and health workers who came into close contact with the deceased couple was conducted, and as a precaution remains ongoing. All are currently well.

?The Ministry is coordinating with the US Embassy in Fiji and working closely with the Fiji Police Force?s forensics department, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United States? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine the cause of death, with these organisations providing technical support.
...
http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=2795912395cf738c5c40571eed3052
 
Fiji rules out influenza as cause of deaths of U.S. tourists

Source: Xinhua| 2019-06-05 13:54:25|Editor: Yurou
...
The couple, originally from Fort Worth, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, arrived on Denarau Island on May 22.

The wife died on May 25 at the clinic on Denarau Island and the husband died on May 28 at a hospital in Lautoka, the second largest city in Fiji.

The couple were sick during their holiday on the island, the ministry said, adding that although they were provided medical treatment, they died after the illnesses progressively deteriorated.
...
Five locals, believed to be in direct contact with the couple, are now under observation at the hospital in Nadi, Fiji's third largest city. The two security guards, two medical staff and a police officer are said to have shown symptoms similar to those of the U.S. couple before their deaths.

Fijian police confirmed that the U.S. couple had a long history of globetrotting. They visited Australia and New Zealand before coming to Fiji.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/05/c_138118543.htm
 
Source: https://www.9news.com.au/world/fiji...lle-paul/43a72804-35ed-474b-b47e-0cb3652183ab

Nurse who treated US tourists who died in Fiji from mystery illness describes what happened
By Sarah Swain
4:19pm Jun 6, 2019

A nurse who treated the American tourists who died from a mystery illness on holiday in Fiji has said the pair were given a normal saline drip at a medical centre before their deaths.
The nurse, who herself was taken to Nadi Hospital for observation after the pair?s deaths but has now been sent home, has described the tragic event for the first time.
Texas couple David Paul, 35, and his wife Michelle, 32, died in Nadi from the undiagnosed illness last month.
Mrs Paul died first, and medical staff were planning on rushing Mr Paul to a hospital in Australia...
 
'We have been throwing up for 8 hours': Texas couple who died in Fiji texted relatives

By BILL HUTCHINSONandLISA SIVERTSEN Jun 6, 2019, 3:38 PM ET
...
"We are both going to doctor now," Michelle Paul, 35, texted her parents, who live in Nevada, soon after she and her husband arrived in Fiji. "We have been throwing up for 8 hours. Dave has diarrhea. My hands are numb. We will text when we can."

After returning to their hotel, Michelle Paul wrote another text to her mother, Juliet Calanog, giving her an update on the treatment they received at the clinic.

"We just got back from the clinic. They gave us fluids and anti-nausea drip," Michelle Paul wrote. "They gave us electrolyte packets and anti-nausea pills. We still don't feel 100%. Going to rest in our room."
...
Michelle Paul died on May 25 and her 37-year-old husband passed away two days later.
...
A Fiji Health Ministry spokeswoman would only confirm to ABC News that blood samples from the couple were sent to a laboratory abroad for testing and the results could come back as early as the end of this week.
...
https://abcnews.go.com/Internationa...died-fiji-emailed-relatives/story?id=63529707
 
It's a long shot, but with most of the common explanations having been ruled out, and now seeing that electrolyte packets were administered, I'm wondering if this isn't a rare complication of diarrheal illness known as Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome where an electrolyte imbalance destroys the nerves in the spine, leading to numbness and paralysis. Several people died of this in Haiti following the large cholera epidemic there:

https://flutrackers.com/forum/emerg...ients-possible-osmotic-demyelination-syndrome

Cholera itself is indeed endemic in Fiji, but this could happen following any severe diarrheal illness. This would explain the unusual symptom of numbness reported here.
 
US couple die two days apart in Fiji, and health officials still don't know why
Pacific Beat By Catherine Graue, wires
Updated about 8 hours ago
...
The exact cause of the illness or nature of the ailment is still unknown, but officials say they have ruled out influenza and other endemic diseases in Fiji ? like typhoid, meningococcal and dengue fever which have caused health concerns for tourists in the past ? as a possible cause.
...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06...i-and-health-officials-dont-know-why/11188944
 
Some kind of accidental poisoning might now be suspect, as toxins would be considerably more difficult to detect than an infectious agent. But how do we then explain the illness in contacts, one of whom may still be hospitalized now more than 10 days later? Are the other illnesses background noise?

This begins to become very unusual....

I don't think these cases have had the type of exposures (animals, wildlife, remote areas, previous ill contacts, etc.) to suspect a previously unknown agent.
 
Investigation into US couple?s death continues: MOH

Ritika Pratap
Deputy News Manager
rpratap@fbc.com.fj | @RitikaFBCNews

JUNE 8, 2019 5:24 PM
...
The Ministry says five staff placed under observation in hospital as a precautionary measure have been released and are in good health.
...
The Ministry in a statement this afternoon has stressed that results of the investigation may take weeks or possibly longer.

It says at this stage, for reasons of patient confidentiality, and out of respect to the families of the couple, the Ministry and its partners involved in the investigation will not comment on specific details of the investigation.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/investigation-into-us-couples-death-continues-moh/
 
PRESS RELEASE

HEALTH MINISTRY CONTINUES INVESTIGATION INTO THE AMERICAN COUPLE?S DEATH.

JUNE 10, 2019 SUNIL CHANDRA

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (the MHMS) is providing an update regarding the tragic deaths of two United States citizens (Mr David Paul, 37; Mrs Michelle Calanog Paul, 35) who arrived in Fiji on Wednesday the 22nd of May.

The investigation into the cause of the deaths is still underway. MHMS considers this investigation a priority and is continuing to collaborate with the US Embassy in Fiji and to work closely with the Fiji Police Force?s forensics department, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United States? Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The five staff placed under observation in hospital as a precautionary measure have been released and are in good health. They are being followed up at their homes by Ministry of Health staff as a matter of precaution. All other people who had contact with the deceased couple during their illness remain well. This is supportive of the assessment that there is no evidence of risk to the public.

The Ministry remains the only authoritative source for information with regard to this issue. The Ministry will continue to provide regular updates any new information. In the meantime, people should continue their lives as usual, take care of their health and seek medical attention if they feel ill, as they normally would.

Results of the investigation may take weeks, possibly longer. At this stage, for reasons of patient confidentiality, and out of respect to the families of Mr and Mrs Paul during this difficult time, the MHMS and its partners involved in the investigation will not comment on specific details of the investigation.

The families of Mr and Mrs Paul remain in our thoughts and prayers as we continue to investigate.

https://www.health.gov.fj/?cat=12
 
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