The final text of an American couple mysteriously deceased in Fiji

Health officials in Fiji said they had no answer yet about why an American couple died while they were spending their holidays on the island, but that influenza was excluded as a potential cause.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services of Fiji said in a statement that the investigation was continuing into the deaths of David Paul, 38, and Michelle Paul, 35, but the officials did not think that the public was in danger. The couple died less than two days after falling ill with an unknown disease.

Michelle Paul's father, Marc Calanog, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the couple met five years ago in Hawaii and both loved the beaches and snorkeling. He said the couple planned to travel to Fiji from May 19-27, as family members could watch their two young children.

Calanog said that he had received a text message from Michelle on May 24: "We are both going to the doctor, we have been vomiting for eight hours, David has diarrhea, my hands are numb."

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He said he received an appeal on May 25 to announce the death of Michelle and the death of David Paul two days later.

"I did not think it was so serious," Calanog told the newspaper. "I was stunned … I almost cried, but I did not cry because I was holding back my emotions … I would say that I was shocked emotionally."

David Paul, a veteran of the Air Force, worked as an engineer at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, said a spokesman for the company. Michelle Paul worked for Marriott International, according to the company.

The ministry in Fiji said the staff and health workers who were in contact with the couple are being monitored as a precaution, but that all is well for the moment. The ministry said it was also working with the local police, the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine the cause of death.

"It would be premature to speculate further on the cause of death until the investigation is over," the statement said.

The CDC said it was working with the Government of Fiji to conduct an investigation, which will include testing of samples in CDC laboratories.