On March 20, 2015, EPA was notified of a potential chemical substance exposure that occurred in St. John, USVI. A family of four began vacationing during the week of March 16, 2015 at Sirenusa, a relatively new condominium complex within the Sirenusa Condominium Resort overlooking Cruz Bay, St. John. All four family members slowly started showing neurological symptoms of acute chemical exposure. The suspected chemical is methyl bromide, a highly toxic and banned pesticide. On March 20, 2015, their symptoms worsened to the point that they required medical care, and they were transported to the St. Thomas Hospital. All four patients have since been transferred to stateside hospitals. The paramedic who transported the victims later noted that she had also exhibited neurological symptoms following the transport, but her symptoms were resolved by the following day with over-the-counter medications and rest.
On March 22, 2015, the EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) visited St. Thomas Hospital and spoke to the doctor who treated the four victims. The doctor confirmed that the symptoms were consistent with methyl bromide exposure and expressed interest in obtaining help from a physician with experience in treating acute methyl bromide exposure. EPA contacted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), who provided consultation with a toxicologist and is coordinating the assistance of another physician.
Also on March 22, 2015, the EPA OSC visited the condominium complex where the family had stayed, and confirmed with maintenance personnel that the family had stayed in unit on the second floor above a first-floor unit which had been fumigated with methyl bromide by an exterminator on March 18, 2015. It was suspected that the victims were in the unit for at least a portion of the time that the fumigation was conducted or that they returned to their unit shortly thereafter. The maintenance contact stated that other units in the complex had been fumigated by the same exterminator in October 2014 without incident.
On March 23, 2015, additional personnel were mobilized to assist in the investigation and sampling being planned for this incident, including one person from ERT, two SERAS contractors, two RST contractors, and an additional EPA OSC. EPA is working in coordination with government and local officials as well as ATSDR to complete an assessment of the condominium unit(s) where methyl bromide has been applied, additional off-site areas where methyl bromide may have been applied by the same exterminator, and any potential stockpiles of methyl bromide owned by the exterminator in order to avoid further exposures.
