PHI PHI ISLAND
Mystery illness kills tourists
Published: 8/05/2009 at 12:00 AM Newspaper section: NewsTwo foreign tourists died mysteriously and two others fell seriously ill after visiting Koh Phi Phi in Krabi, the Phuket Gazette reported on its website on Thursday.
An American, Jill St Onge, 26, died last Saturday shortly after being taken to hospital by her boyfriend Ryan Kells, who also fell ill.
Both were vomiting violently before St Onge’s admission to hospital.
Press attache at the US embassy Michael Turner told the Bangkok Post on Thursday the US embassy was aware of the death of the American woman.
“We have been in contact with her family and with Krabi province, which has jurisdiction over Phi Phi island, about sending her body back home,” he said.
St Onge’s family has set up a blog to publicise the story. Writing on that site, Mr Kells said he suspected the air-conditioning in their bungalow was responsible for making them ill and believes he survived because he spent less time than St Onge in the room.
The same room was rented to two Norwegian women the following day. Both developed similar symptoms.
Norwegian ambassador to Thailand Merete Brattested confirmed that Julie Michelle Bergheim, 22, died on May 4 in Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
Her friend was recovering at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, the Gazette reported.
Phi Phi Hospital director Buncha Khakong said both deaths were being investigated by the Department of Disease Control in Bangkok.
“I guess something they consumed caused them to die but can’t say for sure until we get the lab results,” he said.
Supamit Chunsuthiwat, director of the Disease Control Department’s emerging infectious diseases unit, said he had not received any reports about the foreigners’ deaths.
Bron: Bangkok Post