The four members of a vacationing Delaware family sickened by the apparent use of a pesticide containing methyl bromide at Sirenusa condominiums on St. John remain in stateside hospitals, their attorney, James J. Maron, said in a press release issued Friday.
He said that Stephen Esmond and children Sean and Ryan remain in critical condition at unspecified stateside hospitals. Dr. Theresa Devine rounds out the family, and Maron said that her condition has improved.
According to Maron, family members are grateful for the prayers and support of “friends and loved ones.”
He said the Esmonds are in good hands medically and asked that their privacy be respected.
The Esmonds got sick March 20 after the St. Thomas-based Terminix sprayed a pesticide containing methyl bromide in another room at Sirenusa.
After treatment at Roy L. Schneider Hospital, the Esmonds were airlifted to mainland hospitals.
Maron is an attorney with Maron, Marvel, Bradley and Anderson, a firm that specializes in “complex mass toxic tort and environmental litigation,” its website indicates.
This incident prompted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources to launch an investigation into the matter. This week DPNR issued Stop Use orders to Terminix to prevent the company from continuing to use the pesticide.
Planning spokesman Jamal Nielsen said there wasn’t anything new since Thursday’s announcement of the latest in two Stop Use orders.
EPA spokesman Elias Rodriquez said Friday afternoon that testing continues at Sirenusa.
