Re: Thailand: Sisters Died Of Undetermined Illness In Hotel
Re: Thailand: Sisters Died Of Undetermined Illness In Hotel
http://www.promedmail.org/mbds
Published Date: 2012-06-19 22:08:52
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Undiagnosed deaths - Thailand: Krabi, RFI
Archive Number: 20120619.1373
UNDIAGNOSED DEATHS - THAILAND: KRABI, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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[1]Date: Tue 19 Jun 2012Source: Thai Visa Forum, The Nation report [edited]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/563633-contaminated-food-may-have-killed-canadian-sisters-phi-phi-island/
Public Health officials were dispatched to Phi Phi Island yesterday [18
Jun 2012] to help local officials work out why 2 Canadian sisters died
in their hotel last week [week of 11 Jun 2012].
Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said officials from the
Epidemiology and Occupational and Environmental Diseases Bureau were
assigned to survey environmental conditions for possible contamination
in order to determine the cause of death, so local people and foreign
countries would have fewer concerns.
The bodies of 2 Canadian women, aged 20 and 26, from Quebec province,
were found on Friday [15 Jun 2012] by hotel staff on Phi Phi Island in
Krabi province.
Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, head of the Disease Control Department,
said the initial investigation in the room found a large quantity of
vomit and faeces. There was evidence of bleeding and their nails had
turned black, probably caused by internal bleeding.
"We planned to send the bodies for post mortem at Surat Thani Hospital
because Krabi Hospital has no forensic doctor. However, so far, we have
been unable to move them because their relatives and the Canadian
Embassy representative who came to Krabi did not allow us to do so," the
director said.
Meanwhile, Pol Col Wissawa Sanehha of Phi Phi police, said the initial
investigation found that the sisters had visited a bar on the island the
night before having a meal at a restaurant on the beach.
Dr Komkrit Phukrittayakami, director of Krabi Hospital, said that from
the condition of the bodies, it was likely the deaths were caused by
contaminated food, but an autopsy would be required to discover whether
this was seafood, mushrooms, or chemical substances.
Wiyada Srirangkul, director of the Tourism Authority Krabi office, said
tourism in the province did not appear to have been affected by the
incident because the cause of death was still not known.
However, if it were found that the young women died because of
contaminated food, the image of the area would inevitably be affected.
--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
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[2]
Date: Tue 19 Jun 2012
Source: Pattaya Daily News [edited]
http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/...anadian-sisters-poisonous-mushroom-suspected/
The 2 Canadians sisters aged 26 and 20, we're found dead in their room
on Phi Phi Palm Resident on Phi Phi island on [15 Jun 2012]. The case is
under investigation. [The next post mortem examination will be carried
out in Bangkok].
Pol.Maj.Gen.Jamroon Ruenrom, commissioner of Krabi police conducted a
forensic investigation of room number 103. The police did not find any
trace of violence but found several pills in the room, including
ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug which should be taken with
precaution and should not be mixed with alcohol.
Pol.Maj.Gen.Jamroon could not conclude the cause of their death, they
have to wait for the autopsy at the Royal Thai Police hospital in Bangkok.
There are many pubs that serve a popular cocktail, which is made from
mushrooms. A tourist said that there were special mushrooms on the menu
on Pangan island and Samui island and also on Phi Phi island. The local
name is "Khee Kwai" or magic mushroom, which is popular among tourists.
When consumed, this kind of mushroom will cause heavy intoxication.
--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>
[The newswires above report the undiagnosed deaths of 2 Canadian sisters
in their room at Phi Phi Palm Resident on Phi Phi Island, Krabi province
of Thailand. Consumption of contaminated food is suspected as the cause
of the deaths, but an investigation is underway to confirm the cause of
deaths.
The 2nd newswire mentions poisonous mushrooms for which the local name
is "Khee Kwai" or magic mushroom. This refers to psilocybin mushrooms,
fungi that contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin.
The effects generally include euphoria, visual and mental
hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time and
spiritual experiences, and can include possible adverse reactions such
as nausea and panic attacks (see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin, and
http://www.chetupon.ac.th/Yasebtid/Pages/KindDrug/MagicMushroom1.html,
in Thai).
PRO/MBDS would appreciate more information from reliable sources on the
investigation and etiology of these suspicious deaths in Phi Phi Island,
Krabi province, Thailand.
For maps showing Thailand's regions, see
http://www.thailand-map.net/thailand_provinces/; for provinces, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Thailand. For the
interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map of Thailand with links to other
recent ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS postings, see
http://healthmap.org/r/2B99. - Mod.SCM]
