Officials in the Atlantic island nation confirmed that three American tourists have died at a Bahamas resort after falling ill, and another was taken to hospital for treatment.
Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper issued a statement Friday, saying police were investigating and the cause of death was unknown, although the disturbance “is not suspicious.”
His identity was not initially made public.
The health minister, Dr. Michael Darville, told Eyewitness News Bahamas on Saturday that on Thursday some hotel guests with nausea and vomiting went to a clinic, were treated and were released. Three were later found dead. The fourth was taken to a hospital in New Providence.
He said environmental health scientists, physicians and others were conducting investigations to make sure there was no threat to public health.
“We think what we’re seeing is an isolated case involving a particular area,” he said, adding that investigators are doing toxicology and blood tests to help determine the cause of the disease.
Cooper Prime Minister Philip E. Davis, who was out of the country.
The Head of Communications for the Prime Minister’s Office, Latre L. Rahming tweeted that the deaths occurred at Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma.
In a statement to People Magazine, a representative for Sandals confirmed the deaths and said the company is “working actively to support the investigation as well as the families of the guests in every way possible.”
The hotel company had no immediate response to an Associated Press inquiry on Saturday.
,
