Dominican Republic resort investigating mystery illness of ‘Bachelor’ star Melissa Rycroft
The mother of three reportedly tried to take precautions while vacationing in the Dominican Republic but fell seriously ill anyway -- like a number of other Americans.
Former “Bachelor” star Melissa Rycroft is among the latest Americans to travel to the Dominican Republic and come down with a mysterious illness, triggering an investigation by the Nickelodeon Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana where she and her family were vacationing, TMZ is reporting.
Fortunately, Rycroft’s illness did not turn fatal, though she has been “very sick” since the second day of her vacation earlier this month, a source told Page Six. One of Rycroft’s representatives also told Page Six that Rycroft has suffered “major stomach issues” since returning from the Dominican Republic, one of the Caribbean’s top tourism destinations.
On Thursday, Rycroft, a 36-year-old former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and mother of three, updated fans on her “good progress” after “a really rough week.”
“Update for everyone asking: More bloodwork done today,” she also posted to her Instagram Stories, Page Six reported. “Blood pressure was 90/60 so they’re monitoring it. New meds are making me feel so much better! Test results by Thursday at the latest!”
Sources told TMZ it’s not known what caused Rycroft’s illness. The reality TV star, who also competed on “Dancing With the Stars,” never left the resort, prompting the resort to hire an outside firm to review its cleaning and sanitary practices.
Meanwhile, the FBI is assisting investigations by Dominican authorities to find out why at least nine other Americans have died at resorts in the country over the past year — or after falling ill at one — CNN reported, citing information from the State Department, family members and resorts involved.
One line of inquiry is whether bootleg alcohol is the culprit, the New York Post reported. While the Dominican government has insisted that the deaths are not connected, experts have said that many of the victims had similar symptoms, the New York Post added.
Many of the apparently healthy victims reportedly drank from their hotel’s swim-up pool bar or their room’s minibar before falling ill or dying. A significant number of victims also suffered heart attacks, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure and vomiting blood.
Three of the Americans died at the Bahia Principe resort in La Romana within days of each other, CNN reported. Two died at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana. One was Turlock resident Robert Wallace, 67, who died April 12 after drinking scotch from a minibar, his son-in-law told CNN affiliate KTXL.
TMZ said Rycroft was the first to become sick while staying at the Nickelodeon resort in Punta Cuna, a region known for long white beaches and upscale resorts. Sources told TMZ that Rycroft took extra precautions by staying clear of the minibar in her hotel room and away from tap water. However, she enjoyed a few drinks from the bar carts and from bars on the Nickelodeon property.
No one else from her family became ill, TMZ reported. That includes her three children, ages 3 to 8, and husband, Tye Strickland, who only drank beer, not other alcoholic beverages, TMZ added.
Health inspectors from multiple agencies have conducted extensive tests on the pool, air conditioning units, food areas and alcohol at two Bahia Principe resorts where three visitors died, the Dominican Ministry of Public Health said, according to the New York Post. Authorities are waiting for the test results.
Lawrence Kobilinsky, a forensic science professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, told the New York Post that nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms experienced by some of those who died were consistent with poisoning from methanol or pesticides. Methanol is a type of alcohol used in antifreeze that is not safe for humans to ingest, the Post added.