Lincolnshire couple die mysteriously in Chiang Mai

[margaretcarnes]

As time goes on I'm finding it very difficult to believe that - sadly for the family - this case will be resolved satisfactorily. It is over 2 weeks now....but Callers' comment about anywhere else the hotel would have been closed down I'm afraid I can't agree with at all. People sadly die all over the place all the time - and not always in the most convenient of places. The difference between Thailand and some other countries is that they put everything down to Buddhas' will and get on with living.

[Roel]

Four casualties reported in the same hotel now:
http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2011/03/ ... s-to-four/

[caller]

but Callers' comment about anywhere else the hotel would have been closed down I'm afraid I can't agree with at all.

Really? Ok, lets say it would be more widely reported at the very least, if say in Spain? And no-one would stay there.

[margaretcarnes]

Yes it would be more widely reported in some other countries - but there is still a lot of confusion it seems. That Drummond report now states that the Lincolnshire couple were found in seperate beds - surely there was an earlier photo which showed the husband knelt by the wifes' bed? And Sarah Carters father didn't want a further autopsy, yet is keen to get answers? It doesn't add up.
The Drummond articles photo of the DownTown hotel doesn't look much like an earlier pic of the hotel near the water treatment plant either! Probably taken from a different angle....

[margaretcarnes]

Latest info seems to be that all 4 deaths are 'coincidence' and that the English couple both suffered heart attacks. Cases closed apparently.
While I can accept the possibility that the couple could have died within minutes of eachother - it does happen - I also agree with a post on another forum that hopefully they will now be flown home to the UK, where second autopsies should be ordered as a matter of course.
This unfortunately all adds to the familys' distress, but something must be done to try to verify Thai autopsy findings IMO because as things stand there are people all too willing to discredit their professionalism.
While we all realise that Police investigations can be sadly lacking, medical professionals need to be seen to be above reproach.

[caller]

but something must be done to try to verify Thai autopsy findings

What autopsy findings?

[margaretcarnes]

Good point Caller - it was reported originally that these were being carried out at a ChiangMai hospital - or maybe it was just implied?

[hhfarang]

An interesting update on this story:

There are seven deaths now, all related to the same hotel in some way. I have a long time Canadian friend visiting Hua Hin after spending four months traveling around Thailand. He spent about half of that time in Chiang Mai. He was joined early on his trip by another of his friends from Canada. They did not stay in the Downtown Inn hotel, but another hotel nearby that had a deal for guests to use the hotel pool of the Downtown Inn (where the other six guests died of something resembling heart failure).

His friend decided to take advantage of the swimming pool offer one day around the same time as the other deaths (they had not heard the news) and thankfully, my friend decided not to go. The guy went for a swim in the pool and later that evening had to go to the Emergency room at Chiang Mai Ram hospital with severe chest pains. He was checked for heart problems and nothing was found but he was kept in intensive care overnight and released the following day. That afternoon he died. The autopsy found that he had a heart attack (he was only about 50 years old and thin with no history of heart problems). As they did not know about the other deaths, they accepted the findings and arrangements were made at the Canadian family's request to have the remains cremated and to be brought back to Canada by my friend.

Later, after autopsies of some of the other deaths they discovered a very rare virus called Coxsackie B Virus that is likely involved. This virus specifically attacks the heart and causes loss of heart function. It is transmitted (according to some web sites) through inhaling (dried) or ingesting infected fecal matter.

My friend now believes that the source in all the cases is the hotel pool and has contacted the Canadian Embassy, the World Health Organization, and the Bangkok Post (who published the article below about the virus) about his friend and the connection with the hotel pool.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/lea ... th-mystery

Shades of legionnaire's disease... scary stuff!

[Spitfire]

Yeah man, can't even trust the swimming pool in a hotel.

It would be interesting to get figures on just how many tourists die in Thailand each year. Had a look for some stats but no joy.

[Khundon1975]

It seems that it is not confined to the East, the UK and the US have had outbreaks of this virus, in a different form.
It would seem that the A16 strain is the main one that can cause heart failure within a relatively short time of infection and very difficult to diagnose and treat in time.
I'm not sure that an infected pool is to blame for all infections, as it can easily be spread during food preparation. We all know just how poor Thai toilet hygiene is. Basic hand hygiene can help stop this virus dead in it's tracks.


http://www.vadscorner.com/newsNST.html

[Takiap]

This has really got me thinking now because my brother passed away suddenly and with no prior warning, just a few months back. He had been hired to oversee and supervise the start-up of a new offshore drilling rig in India. The job included him fly to South Korea and then sailing with the new rig to India, at which point he was to oversee the rig put into operation (drilling side of things).

Anyway, each night before going to bed, he would phone his wife in Malta to say goodnight to his wife and kids, and then one night he simply went to bed and never woke up again. Now, he was a picture of health, and we all used to joke that he would still be around long after all of us, so yes this came as quite a shock. Having died in India, and offshore, an autopsy had to be done, and the Indian autopsy said they can only put it down to heart failure. Because him and his family had immigrated to Malta (I think that's the reason), his body had to be flown to the UK for a second opinion. Once again, the reason for death was heart failure and the term "sudden adult death syndrome" was mentioned as well. Really wonder if this virus mentioned in this thread was even checked for, considering the rig was operating in India.

[migrant]

Takiap

My condolences for your brother.

It's amazing what modern medicine can, and can't, do.

[PeteC]

That's terrible Takiap, my deepest sympathies. If it is a virus here that's killing these people, they will never in 1,000 years admit it. Tourism would come to a full stop. If they know, it's locked deep in the book of secrets. Pete

[Roel]

A quote from Andrew Drummond, if true that will not be a great help in the investigations:

the Downtown Inn owned by a millionaire former Mayor of the city.

Note: Downtown Inn is the hotel in Chiang Mai where all the victims are linked to, as guests or as people using the facilities e.g. the swimming pool.

[Takiap]

That's terrible Takiap, my deepest sympathies. If it is a virus here that's killing these people, they will never in 1,000 years admit it. Tourism would come to a full stop. If they know, it's locked deep in the book of secrets. Pete

Thanks Pete.

It just seems fishy that all these cases are linked to a single hotel. One person dies, maybe two, okay that could just be life, but seven people? Perhaps there is fowl play involved - a bitter employee of maybe competition?