The families of two U.S. citizens have come forward, saying their loved ones also died suddenly while visiting the Dominican Republic – bringing the total number of U.S. citizens known to have died while visiting the country to 11, according to Fox News.
The report says the pair has been identified as Army veteran Chris Palmer, 41, from Kansas, and Barbara Diane Maser-Mitchell, 69, a retired nurse from Pennsylvania.
The State Department confirmed their deaths Thursday to Fox News.
Palmer died on April 18, 2018 and Maser-Mitchell died on Sept. 17, 2016 after falling critically ill at a resort.
The news comes as officials from the Dominican Republic expect to hold a press conference about the deaths of the U.S. tourists who died while vacationing there.
Local authorities are expected to talk about the final autopsy reports of those who died after suddenly falling ill.
Authorities were said to be testing the alcohol, food, air quality, water, and kitchens at the resorts.