Tourist Deaths In Chiang Mai Just A ‘Coincidence’

[animatic]

Here is link to CDC outbreak bulletin Note it reveals a sixth death, woman from France before Feb 4

http://pr.ddc.moph.g...etil.php?id=243

Note that while virus was found in two patients, it is not the subject of the bulletin, heart enlargement is

Vomiting with no other symptoms and enlargemnet of the heart is the common thread .

Myocarditis cases in Chiangmai – update 1 (11 March 2011)

วันที่ :2011-03-12 Disease Outbreak News

Myocarditis cases in Chiangmai – update 1 (11 March 2011) On 9 February, the Department of Disease Control was requested by the Chiangmai Provincial Health Office to assist in an investigation into myocarditis cases. The joint investigation team found four clinically-confirmed cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and another two patients with mild symptoms. These six patients were among three separate groups of tourists visiting Chiang Mai, Thailand, between 9 January and 4 February 2011. All were young women aged 23-33 years and were from the United States (1), Canada (1), France (2) and New Zealand (3). Of these six patients three died (one each from the USA, France and New Zealand). Five of them became ill while visiting Chiang Mai and one developed symptoms three days before arriving there. Common features of the illness among these patients include vomiting without diarrhea and lack of respiratory symptoms. One patient had a fever but all others were afebrile.

Extensive epidemiological investigation has not revealed any common exposures across the three groups. Laboratory testing of blood and stools to date has not revealed anything except for evidence of infection by an echovirus in one patient and by a Coxsackie virus in another patient from New Zealand. Autopsies on two of the dead patients (American and French) were done by forensic medical expert of Chiang Mai University. The autopsies found nothing abnormal except for inflammation of the heart muscle. The Department of Disease Control has shared this information with the WHO and US CDC offices in Bangkok, as well as the New Zealand Embassy and the International Health Regulation (IHR) focal points of France and the European Community. In a separate episode, since 3 February, there were three other deaths in the same hotel where the three New Zealanders stayed. This included an elderly British couple and a 47 year old Thai woman. As these three deaths occurred outside the hospital, the police took charge of the investigation. The autopsies of the two elderly Britons found a high degree of coronary occlusion while the examination of the Thai woman found no inflammation of the heart muscle or any other clear evidence to explain the cause of her death. Myocarditis is a well known illness that may result from many possible etiologies such as viral infection, bacterial infection and toxins and can be found everywhere from time to time. However, four cases among young healthy adults in the same location is rare. The Department of Disease Control will continue its intensive investigation and collaborate with the WHO, IHR authorities and embassy contact persons of the USA, France and New Zealand to determine the causes of myocarditis in all these cases, which may be of the same or of different etiologies. While the causes of the illnesses remain unknown at this time, travelers are recommended to take general preventive health measures that include eating only hot food, drinking clean water and taking enough rest and exercise. Those who experience severe sudden multiple vomiting with or without diarrhea, should seek medical attention immediately.

You do realize this is the Thailand Office of Public Relation, Department of Disease Control DoDC and not the world reknowned Center For Disease Control CDC. in Atlanta Georgia USA. A BIG difference in motivations, abilities and analysis capabilities, and also will to get to the truth and not make a politically expedient finding.

"and collaborate with the WHO, IHR authorities and embassy contact persons of the USA, France and New Zealand"

Clearly the CDC is not being consulted, nor are toxicology and autopsy samples being sent to CDC. Also the main point. the causes of the illnesses remain unknown at this time

Via A.D.

http://www.andrew-dr...i-deaths-probe/

"The U.S. has shared with the Ministry of Public Health all of the information we have about the death of Mariam Soraya Vorster (Pandola) the American who died....

"Further the U.S. Mission in Thailand has offered the technical assistance of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to assist the Ministry of Public Health in their investigation. At this time health workers have not yet verified that the cases are connected...."

It would appear the OFFER of USA CDC help has not been accepted,

likely for face saving reasons, but also possibly because then control is lost by those REALLY wanting to keep the lid on this...

Edited March 23, 2011 by animatic

[AGNYAUM]

Chiang Mai governor talks about coincidences when 7 foreigners were poisoned to death.

Few days ago a Thai man killed a foreigner pulling a bullet in his head. After being asked by the authorities why he did killed the westerner, the Thai man says to the police: ''I don't like farangs''.

Two days ago, the deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban declare: ''I don't respect farangs.' We do not have to surrender to them," he said, using the Thai word for "Westerners".

As residents in Thailand since a long period of time, we know that there is a strong Thai educational mentality against westerners, but tourists or expats often forget that fact, by lack of knowledge or fooled by the smiles or kindness that may hide interests or revenge ready to strike you down with hatred.

A good advise to foreigners, be observers instead of claimants, you'll see that the ''Land of smiles'' will become the ''Land of money' or the ''Land of money'' will become the ''Land of smiles''.

Follow your heart and take your distance with the solicitation of others. Be well educated people and save yourselves more then in your own country, even if you feel more free and safer in Thailand.

The deceased may rest in peace and the westerners coming to Thailand have a great time..

Peace for all.

[marc651]

Please note that virus found in Ms Carter is NOT listed as a cause of death. Cause of death is UNKNOWN which is why the CDC Bulletin does not warn of a virus but unexplained heart inflammation in five deaths in Chiang Mai. The Thai woman had no such condition.

REPEAT myocarditus ( inflammation )of the heart muscle) outbreak is the subject of the bulletin, not a virus. I bet if you randomly tested 10 people at least one of them would have some variation of an echovirus.

And the CDC is SPECIFIC l Look for vomiting with no other symptoms, this is not indicative of food laden pathogens that would also cause diarrhea, but a toxin poison.

I gather myocarditus can be caused by just about any stress to the body, like dehydration and or rapid heart beat? High blood pressure, too.?

Note LannaRebith's source states" it is being treated as a criminal poisoning investigation "

The one fact that to me says POISONER is aside from the one British man within th e elderly couple, all the deaths and illnesses are attractive young women.

I think there is a serial poisoner, who may not even be aware some of his victims are dying. It is a revenge prank using a substance, eye drops that is featured on crime drama TV shows as an innocuous agent that merely gives victims diarrhea when in fact it causes vomiting and rapid heart rate that leads to other complications in some victims that either don't get medical help, or have other conditions- like an echo virus - or hardening of the arteries-that contribute to death.

I just KNOW this is related to Andaman region deaths in May and June of 2009 and to my own poisoning in Ko Samet Jan 2005. Same persons? Maybe , maybe not- but I think it is deliberate.

Personally, I also believe intentional poisoning is behind the deaths.

The theory of a virus or disease behind this is just whishfull thinking.

If indeed poisoning is behind the deaths it would also be hard to prove based on autopsy or symptoms alone, given the right substance used.

Finding the cause of the deaths starting from the symptoms of the victims is simly impossible, but this is where the focus seems to lie in the investigation.

Who was there, in the hotel in the time before the deaths. From hotel staff, to cleaners and suppliers, or places the vistims visited, they should look for a common denominator, looking for a pattern.

More attention should go to the theory of a serial poisoner.

[animatic]

No it doesn't trick the brain, it's a naturally occurring ingredient in many foods and it has been shown to be safe. But in any event to go from your assertion, which is untrue, to one that suggests that it might be the cause of these sad deaths is just living in cloud cuckoo land

Real facts!

OPk some balance info. both pro and con.

MSG is the salt of glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is one of the non-essential amino acids that our bodies produce.

------------------------------------------------

1,200 years ago, Oriental cooks discovered that some foods tasted better when prepared with a soup stock made from the seaweed Laminaria japonica. It was not until 1908 that Professor Kikunae Ikeda of The University of Tokyo isolated glutamate from the seaweed

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MSG is usually produced through fermentation, a process similar to that used in making beer, vinegar and yogurt. The process usually begins with the fermentation of corn, sugar beets or sugar cane

A pro MSG industry website:

http://www.msgfacts....msg_basics.aspx

---------------------------------------------------

An excitotoxin is something that excites the brain cells. They cause the brain cell to fire their impulses rapidly until they are exhausted and sometimes killing the cells. Glutamate is absorbed into the gastrointestinal track rapidly, which then spikes the levels of glutamate in blood levels.

------------------------------------------------

In 1995, the USA FDA reaffirmed the safety of MSG and found no evidence that it causes long-term health problems. The FDA did admit that some people could have short-term reactions to MSG. The negative symptoms to eating MSG include:

· Headaches

· The feeling of swelling in the face

· Flushing and or sweating

· Rapid fluttering of heartbeats or heart palpitations

· Nausea

· Chest pain

· Shortness of breath

· Numbness, burning or tingling around the mouth area

· Weakness

If you ate enough foods all day that contained MSG, it could build up in your body. This could lead to some of these symptoms later at night including the heart palpitations

--------------------------------------------------------

Studies have shown that MSG does cause obesity in mice. It does this by downregulating our body's appetite suppression, in other words, it makes us feel hungry sooner. MSG could be considered the anti-appetite suppressant since it does make you feel hungrier sooner. MSG stimulates the pancreas, which in turn causes it to produce insulin, even when there is no reason to produce it. Blood sugar then drops and you are hungry again sooner.

http://factoidz.com/...nd-your-health/

Edited March 26, 2011 by animatic

[animatic]

I do not think MSG is in any way linked to this death cluster in Chiang mai.

While most of the people might have ingested some in the day or days prior to death that is simply because MSG usage is endemic in Thailand. If this were a root cause, then 10s of thousands would have died in the same period from the same symptoms and this is not the case.

Edited March 26, 2011 by animatic

[sunholidaysun1]

I do not think MSG is in any way linked to this death cluster in Chiang mai.

While most of the people might have ingested some in the day or days prior to death that is simply because MSG usage is endemic in Thailand. If this were a root cause, then 10s of thousands would have died in the same period from the same symptoms and this is not the case.

I agree, the Chinese have been using it for centuries and so have the Philipina people and possibly every Asian nation as well. There were health warnings before a few years ago for MSG but like everything else they warn us about , its scare mongering I think. I would still go down the serial poisoner route and possibly something that the body can digest in hours , kill you ,then show no trace when the autopsy is carried out. There was a drug used in a murder case I read awhile back but I cant think of the drug used , maybe a Chemist can comment ?

[ginjag]

I do not think MSG is in any way linked to this death cluster in Chiang mai.

While most of the people might have ingested some in the day or days prior to death that is simply because MSG usage is endemic in Thailand. If this were a root cause, then 10s of thousands would have died in the same period from the same symptoms and this is not the case.

I agree, the Chinese have been using it for centuries and so have the Philipina people and possibly every Asian nation as well. There were health warnings before a few years ago for MSG but like everything else they warn us about , its scare mongering I think. I would still go down the serial poisoner route and possibly something that the body can digest in hours , kill you ,then show no trace when the autopsy is carried out. There was a drug used in a murder case I read awhile back but I cant think of the drug used , maybe a Chemist can comment ?

another toxic chemical is ..silver iodide...it was used to turn hail into rain by the Thai air force. Just read on it and it is used for cleansing and a load of other things-it is very toxic and one of the symptoms was enlarged hearts, and heart related probs. I have no idea if this substance is used in Thailand for cleaning-air cons-water outlets-the like. I only read the air force using it and on that thread, and a list of symptoms were put on by a poster.

[Deeral]

So was a ll just a "coincidence" inn the end?

or has the ancient Thai art of "sweeping under the Sala" prevailed???

[TigerWan]

Mystery Thai illness strikes another tourist | World | News | Toronto Sun

Three 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. [symptom reported in 2009 Phi Phi And Phuket , three deaths ] 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. [ like poison ingested would do. ]

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.

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

Edited April 17, 2011 by TigerWan

[brahmburgers]

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.

- with files from Andrew Drummond

".....no link to the Downtown Inn." Like the ending of the Wizard of Oz: "disregard the man behind the curtain, he is of no concern to you. Keep looking at the image in front of you."

[Deeral]

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.

- with files from Andrew Drummond

".....no link to the Downtown Inn." Like the ending of the Wizard of Oz: "disregard the man behind the curtain, he is of no concern to you. Keep looking at the image in front of you."

One can't help but wonder at the Thai medical industry here - whether or not these cases are linked by location they are ALL linked by a seemingly fatal lack of action by the health workers who were approached by the victims.it seems their first instinct is to turn a patient away and hope it clears up.

Edited April 17, 2011 by Deeral

[chiangmaicharlies]

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.

- with files from Andrew Drummond

".....no link to the Downtown Inn." Like the ending of the Wizard of Oz: "disregard the man behind the curtain, he is of no concern to you. Keep looking at the image in front of you."

One can't help but wonder at the Thai medical industry here - whether or not these cases are linked by location they are ALL linked by a seemingly fatal lack of action by the health workers who were approached by the victims.it seems their first instinct is to turn a patient away and hope it clears up.

After weeks of virtually nil occupancy, some revellers showed up for Songkran, but the place looks empty again today.

[Deeral]

I feel sorry for them ( the hotel management that is)...it probably was initially not their fault, I doubt if they knew the first thing about what potentially was happening but they way they've hummed and hah'd and basically tried to hush up the whole issue rather than tackle the problem face-on has largely brought about all this speculation on the net and in the mainstream media.

This is a classic example of the Thai attitude to customer service - if there is a problem, clam up and hope it will go away.Most countries learn about their customers and what they expect to get in regards to open-ness and fair trading; fore decades now Thailand has resisted this, it is about time they put some effort into customer relations and looked at how other countries handle this sort of thing. Repeated bleatings of "it's not the "Thai way"" simply won't wash.Anyhow is the "Thai Way" one of incompetence, stupidity and evasiveness?

Edited April 17, 2011 by Deeral

[brahmburgers]

Anyhow, is the "Thai Way" one of incompetence, stupidity and evasiveness?

Yes.

To compare with an experience I had recently in Burma: I bought six small packages of dried seaweed snack which were in one larger plastic quantity bag from a store in Burma. That evening I ate the contents of one bag. That night I couldn't sleep because of tossing and turning from MSG (yes, I'm sensitive to the stuff). The next morning, I went back to the shop with the remaining 5 unopened snack packs. Before I uttered three words of explanation, the management understood my predicament and immediately gave me a refund for all six packages. No argument, no hemming and hawing, no emotional bullcrap, no raised voices.

Could such a scenario happen with Thais in Thailand? No way.

[Deeral]

Anyhow, is the "Thai Way" one of incompetence, stupidity and evasiveness?

Yes.

To compare with an experience I had recently in Burma: I bought six small packages of dried seaweed snack which were in one larger plastic quantity bag from a store in Burma. That evening I ate the contents of one bag. That night I couldn't sleep because of tossing and turning from MSG (yes, I'm sensitive to the stuff). The next morning, I went back to the shop with the remaining 5 unopened snack packs. Before I uttered three words of explanation, the management understood my predicament and immediately gave me a refund for all six packages. No argument, no hemming and hawing, no emotional bullcrap, no raised voices.

Could such a scenario happen with Thais in Thailand? No way.

I'd agree with that completely = it puzzles me how many people seem to be in denial about this glaring fault on the way business is conducted in Thailand.

[Tywais]

Update:

Toxin 'likely' cause of Sarah Carter's death

An investigation has found traces of a potentially lethal toxin in the Thai hotel where Wellington woman Sarah Carter became fatally ill.

Traces of chlorpyrifos, which is used to kill bedbugs but has been banned in other countries, have been found in samples that current affairs television show 60 Minutes had independently tested.

Carter, 23, died and her friends Emma Langlands and Amanda Eliason became gravely ill while on holiday in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

A United Nations scientist, Ron McDowall, said there was a strong likelihood Carter died from excessive exposure to the substance, which causes identical symptoms to those suffered by the trio as well as several other tourists who died after staying at the hotel.

stuff.co.nz

Sarah Carter's likely cause of death - insecticide

Thai authorities have maintained the deaths were coincidence, but tonight, 60 Minutes has credible evidence that Sarah Carter died due to insecticide poisoning.

60 Minutes travelled to Chiang Mai and took samples from the bedroom Sarah stayed in at the Downtown Inn, while posing as a hotel guest interested in renting a room.

When she got there the entire fifth floor, the floor where Sarah and her friends stayed, was being pulled apart and cleaned.

It is understood health authorities were due to visit the hotel the next day.

Before leaving for Chiang Mai, 60 Minutes spoke to a New Zealand scientist who suspected insecticide poisoning.

3news.co.nz

[TAWP]

Insecticide at hotel killed NZ tourist in Thailand

The sudden death of a New Zealander in Thailand was likely caused by exposure to a potentially fatal insecticide used at the hotel she was staying at to kill bed bugs, a United Nations scientist says.

Sarah Carter, aged 23, fell ill on February 3 while staying at the Downtown Inn in Chiang Mai and died a day later.

Her two friends and travel companions, Emma Langlands and Amanda Eliason, also fell ill but later recovered.

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/159524/insecticide-hotel-killed-nz-tourist-thailand

[Scott]

I think we can close this topic. Discussion continues here: