Thread: NZ woman in Thailand food poisoning death

WHAT ?! Tragedy site deleted the 1-2 Die travesty of safety? Pssswhhhaw Gonna get sued? Already cowed by the Thai Fonzie Factor?

Thanks to PW Media Watch

via link to Toronto Sun article culled from.
Mystery Thai illness strikes another tourist | World | News | Toronto Sun

Two more Downer Inn linked illnesses in CM last week , April 4 2011
P O I S O N

Megan Jefferies, 26, of Seattle and husband Mike are happy to be home and alive. The couple had to cut their world-travels short after Megan experienced similar symptoms that has killed an Edmonton man and several other tourists following contact with a Thailand hotel since January. (Supplied Photo)
TEXT:
Another Thailand traveller was treated in hospital after spending time in Chiang Mai, where a number of tourists have mysteriously died since January.
Megan Jefferies, 26, of Seattle, Wash., became violently ill April 4 along with two friends after eating and using restrooms at the Night Market in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on March 30.
The Night Market is next door to a hotel plagued with mysterious tourist deaths since the beginning of this year, including Edmontonian Bill Mah, who was found dead after using the hotel's facilities Jan. 26.
Mah's symptoms began with severe chest pain keeping him up through the night, a close friend earlier reported.
He later died of "suspected natural cause," after being diagnosed with acid reflux in a Thailand hospital and sent home.
Jefferies and her husband, Mike, had to abruptly cut their one-year travel across the world short, after two weeks in Chiang Mai resulted in Jefferies making two emergency hospital visits - "the worst week of their lives."
She was treated in a Chiang Mai hospital after suffering chest pains and flu-like symptoms April 8. They were staying at another nearby hotel.
"My hands and legs were shaking and really sore, and later Mike told me that my eyes had rolled back in my head and my lips were blue. We were really scared," she said.
After arriving at the hospital, staff ran tests including an EKG and concluded it to be either food poisoning or
...acid reflux.

While in the hospital, the couple ran a Google search and discovered the seven cases in the area of tourists with similar symptoms since January - all of who died after experiencing similar symptoms.
They returned to the hotel from the hospital, where Jefferies again collapsed and began vomiting in the elevator. [ as now knew correct symptoms?]
The couple packed their bags and headed for the airport to catch the next flight home but once in the car, she began convulsing again.
They went to the hospital instead.
"All that could go through my mind was the stories of the recent victims," said Jefferies.
Medical staff hooked her up to an IV, ran another EKG and did blood tests before sending her home.
Jefferies' mom, Laura Deck, contacted QMI Agency from the United States after reading previous related news reports.
"Whatever this is, has done damage to people's hearts," said Deck.
Upon arrival back into the U.S., Jefferies saw a doctor to follow up on her symptoms and has an appointment with an infectious disease specialist.

"I'm feeling exhausted, relieved and sore. I am hopeful that the source is identified soon so that no one else becomes ill and so that people can continue to enjoy the wonderful city of Chiang Mai without worrying," said Jefferies.
"The doctors in Thailand said it was probably food poisoning and dehydration. In Seattle, we haven't received all of the test results, but initial diagnosis was infectious enteritis. I had an x-ray and an EKG, and my heart looks normal. The doctor also referred me to follow up with an infectious disease specialist."

Other cases
News reports across the world have been covering the mysterious deaths in Chiang Mai - the northern Thai capital.
The death toll now stands at seven between January and March of this year - all with similar circumstances.
George, 78, and Eileen, 74, Everett, of England, died simultaneously of a heart attack inside their Downtown Inn hotel room on Feb. 28.
Sarah Carter, 23, of New Zealand, died in hospital March 3 after she and two friends became ill in the same hotel.
That same day, 47-year-old tourist guide Waraporn Pungmahisiranon, was found dead in a room located next door to Carter.
American Soraya Pandola, 33, also died after experiencing similar symptoms as Carter. However, like Mah, Pandola was not staying at the Downtown Inn and lab results for the cause of death have not been received. Her husband Tony has demanded the Inn be closed and that he receive the lab reports.
A French woman was identified as being the sixth person to die with similar circumstances.
Evidence of the Coxsackie virus was found in Carter and the Echovirus was found in another victim. Four of the deaths have been linked to myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that masks itself as flu symptoms or chest pain resembling a heart attack.
Officials respond
The World Health Organization told QMI Agency that the cases are under watch.
"This event is being investigated by authorities in Thailand," said Gregory Härtl, communications of WHO global Art and Response team.
"The investigation is still on-going and no conclusions have been reached. I cannot tell you much more than that right now."
Freelance journalist Andrew Drummond in Thailand has been closely following the cases and reported the Thailand Department for Disease Control said so far there are no links between the deaths of cases examined of people visiting Chiang Mai in January and February, and no link to the Downtown Inn.
Jasmine.franklin[at]sunmedia.ca


- with files from Andrew Drummond
_____

Could Mr Drummond please clarify the Mah statemnt re actually using facilities, same as Vorster, please? Source from your files and exact quotes? Is not on your site. Thanks


PhuketWan Summation of TS article
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/hell-du...ongkran-13956/

Another Thailand traveller was treated in hospital after spending time in Chiang Mai, where a number of tourists have mysteriously died since January. Megan Jefferies, 26, of Seattle, became violently ill April 4 along with two friends after eating and using restrooms at the Night Market in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on March 30. Jefferies and her husband, Mike, had to abruptly cut their one-year travel across the world short, after two weeks in Chiang Mai resulted in Jefferies making two emergency hospital visits - "the worst week of their lives."

duplicate post of one below

Mystery deaths of UK couple George & Eileen Everitt in Chiang Mai Downtown Inn

Updated: 19 Apr 2011

Sarah Carter, right, with her travelling companions Amanda Eliason and Emma Langlands

The mysterious deaths of up to seven tourists in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai have baffled the authorities, casting doubts over the safety of the popular holiday destination.


A British couple, a 23-year-old New Zealander, and a Thai tour guide all died within 16 days in adjoining rooms at the three-star Downtown Inn in February. All four are believed to have died in remarkably similar circumstances, while three other cases have been speculatively linked to the phenomenon after displaying similar symptoms. Thai health authorities have blamed "toxic seaweed" for one of the deaths, but amid calls for a fresh investigation, one expert said that food poisoning was unlikely to be the cause.

Thai police have ruled out foul play and said there was no evidence that the deaths were linked. Health authorities said at least two were probably caused by food poisoning. The Governor of Chiang Mai, Panadda Disakul, said they were nothing more than a coincidence, according to news reports.

But David Mabey, professor of communicable diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that if the cases were a coincidence they would be a "remarkable" one. He described the deaths as "absolutely extraordinary" and said that food poisoning would "certainly not" be one of the first possible causes to spring to mind.

Richard Carter, the father of the dead New Zealand woman, Sarah Carter, said that he believes the deaths are linked and that the investigation into his daughter's death, which continues to focus on food poisoning, is "narrow-minded". Mr Carter has also claimed that the initial examination of the relevant hotel rooms consisted of little more than a "cursory sweep" and has demanded a fresh look at his daughter's case.

Ms Carter had been on a three-week holiday when she and her travel companions, Amanda Eliason, 24, and Emma Langlands, 23, were taken to hospital with symptoms of food poisoning. Ms Carter's condition deteriorated quickly and she died from myocarditis (swelling of the heart) on 6 February within hours of being admitted. Ms Eliason and Ms Langlands recovered.

George and Eileen Everitt, from Boston, Lincolnshire, were found dead in their room 13 days after Ms Carter died. Mrs Everitt, 74, was discovered lying on the bed and Mr Everitt, 78, was sitting on the floor with his head resting on the bed. Thai authorities said the couple had suffered heart attacks, also thought to be the result of myocarditis, just minutes apart. Their room was below Ms Carter's.

"They had no history of heart problems or any other problems," the couple's son, Stephen Everitt, told the New Zealand Herald. "They were active and healthy for their age and it has come as a total shock. And now they want me to believe they had heart attacks at the same time. It doesn't make sense."

A 47-year-old Thai woman named Waraporn Pungmahisiranon was the first to die in her hotel room on 3 February, but this only came to light when alarmed guests reported seeing a body wrapped in a sheet being carried down the hotel's fire escape.

Further possible cases include Canadian Bill Mah, 59, who did not stay at the Downtown Inn, but did use its pool. He died suddenly, complaining of severe chest pains, though the cause of his death remains unknown. Soraya Pandola, 33, an American woman, died on 11 January after being treated in hospital for food poisoning, and a French woman is believed to have died in similar circumstances.

Chiang Mai health authorities say eating "toxic seaweed" from a nearby night bazaar may have triggered Ms Carter's death, and traces of the Coxsackie B virus were found in samples taken from her body. The virus can cause stomach upsets and, in rare cases, heart damage. But Professor Mabey says it would be "unusual for so many people to get myocarditis from [Coxsackie B and other similar viruses] at the same time".

New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, has called for "closer scrutiny" of Ms Carter's death, prompting Thai authorities to ask the World Health Organisation for help with further tests. Britain's Foreign Office said it has no plans to call for further inquiries into the Everitts' deaths.

The Downtown Inn and the market remain open after brief police examinations. Vinai Julsiri, the acting manager of the Downtown Inn, told The Australian that speculation surrounding the deaths had been "really bad for business". He said: "There is nothing wrong or dangerous in our hotel."

Chiang Mai attracts up to two million tourists ever year. In March, Thailand's Bureau of Epidemiology said over 19,000 people were treated for food poisoning in the previous two months. Thailand's Department for Disease Control says "threats to the general public remain low or minimal".

But Mr Carter believes the investigations are not being conducted properly to save face, and to protect Chiang Mai's tourism industry. "With something so extremely dangerous, the investigation should be broadened to look at everything that is used in the hotel."
http://www.whatsonshenzhen.com/news-...ntown-inn.html

Kiwi travellers in Thailand nightmare

Kiwi travellers in Thailand nightmare

08:54 AEST Tue Apr 26 2011

Two New Zealand women who fell gravely ill while on holiday in northern Thailand have spoken out about their experience and the death of their fellow traveller Sarah Carter.

Emma Langlands, Amanda Eliason and Carter, all 23, fell ill on February 3 while staying at the Downtown Inn in Chiang Mai.

The trio were admitted to hospital where Carter died of heart inflammation a day later.

Langlands and Eliason have written about their ordeal on a website, thailandtraveltragedies.com, started by Carter's family to warn people of the dangers of travel in South-East Asia.

They said they arrived in Chiang Mai on the evening of February 2 and took a taxi to their "clean and comfortable" accommodation before visiting the night bazaar and eating at an indoor food court.

"Amanda ate a chicken pita kebab, and Emma and Sarah ate red pork curry. Both Amanda and Sarah drank a passionfruit shake. Later at the hotel, we drank the bottled drinking water provided for us," they said.

"We woke up early on 3 February, and within half an hour of each other, all fell ill. We called a doctor to our room mid-morning."

Their health improved in the afternoon and they ate food provided by the hotel, but took a turn for the worse that evening and were admitted to hospital about midnight.

Carter was one of seven people to die in similar circumstances in the northern Thai city, including a guest in the room next to theirs.

Early reports suggested her death was caused by toxic seaweed, but food-poisoning tests were inconclusive.

An elderly British couple, a Thai tourist guide and a Canadian man died after staying at the same hotel or using its facilities, while two other women died in similar circumstances within one month.

Thai authorities have denied the deaths were linked.