Sick Fiji Airways Passengers Who Stayed At Same Hotel Treated At LAX
UPDATE:
All 13 passengers reporting to be sick have now been released for flying and chose to continue their onward connections.
Fiji Airways can confirm that these symptoms are isolated to a single group of passengers who stayed at the same resort in Fiji. We are aware that a number of the group were feeling ill prior to boarding and the remainder of the group became progressively more ill after take off.
We have had no other reports of similar symptoms on any of our other services. As per our Health, Safety & Security standard operating procedures, our catering supplier in Nadi, Fiji, has sent samples of our on-board food from the Los Angeles sector for testing. The resort has been notified and requested to conduct their own internal investigation and tests.
While not traveling together, all 12 sick passengers reportedly stayed in the same hotel in Nadi and experienced the same symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.
CDC medical officials examined the patients, and then released all 12 to continue with their travel, according to LAX Public Relations Director Nancy Suey Castles. Eleven passengers continued with no further medical attention, while one passenger opted to be taken to a local hospital for further treatment.
All 261 passengers and 11 crew members remained aboard until cleared by the medical officers. The last passenger deplaned at 2:12 p.m., said Castles.
Full statement from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX):
"Approximately 1:45 pm today, Fiji Airways Flight 810 from Nadi landed at LAX with the flight crew initially reporting 13 sick passengers experiencing stomach problems aboard the flight. Following LAX's long-established procedures for responding to reports of ill passengers aboard arriving flights, personnel from U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Public Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Los Angeles Fire Department, and LAX Airport Operations responded to the aircraft. CDC medical officials determined there were 12 (not 13) sick passengers, examined the 12, and then released all 12 to continue with their travel. Eleven passengers continued with no further medical attention, while one passenger opted to be transported to a local hospital for further treatment.
During the incident, all 261 passengers and 11 crew members (total 272 people) remained aboard until cleared by the medical officers to deplane. The last passenger deplaned at 2:12 pm.
While not travelling together, all 12 sick passengers reportedly stayed in the same hotel in Nadi and experienced the same symptoms (diarrhea and vomiting)."