>> Reporter: A SPRING VACATION 
FOR THE FAMILY IN THE U.S. 
VIRGIN ISLANDS WAS SUPPOSED TO 
BE A TROPICAL PARADISE.
BUT JUST HOURS AFTER CHECKING 
INTO THEIR ST. JOHN'S CONDO, THE
FAMILY OF FOUR THOUGHT THEY HAD 
FOOD POISONING.
PARAMEDICS WERE CALLED TO THE 
DELAWARE FAMILY'S VILLA ON MARCH
20th, AFTER STEVE FELL 
UNCONSCIOUS.
HIS WIFE AND TWO SONS BEGAN 
HAVING SEIZURES.
THE FAMILY WAS RUSHED TO A 
HOSPITAL IN NEARBY ST. THOMAS, 
AND THEN AIR LIFTED TO THE 
UNITED STATES AFTER IT APPEARED 
THEY HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO A 
LETHAL PESTICIDE. 
>> IT'S A POTENT NEUROTOXIN.
EPA BANNED ITS USE FOR INDOOR 
APPLICATIONS ALL THE WAY BACK IN
1984.
>> Reporter: IGNORING EPA 
REGULATIONS, FEDERAL 
INVESTIGATORS SAY METH ILL 
BROMIDE WAS SPRAYED ON THE FIRST
FLOOR OF THE CONDO TO KILL BUGS.
BUT THE FUMES REACHED THE SECOND
FLOOR WHERE THE FAMILY WAS 
STAYING. 
>> THIS IS A VERY STOPICS 
PESTICIDE. 
>> Reporter: STEVE IS NOW OUT OF
HIS COMA AND IMPROVING.
HIS TWO SONS ARE STILL BOTH 
LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
HIS WIFE IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL 
AND UNDERGOING THERAPY.
INDOOR USE OF THE TOXIN IS 
ILLEGAL.
BUT THE EPA SAYS IT HAS NEVER 
SEEN SUCH A DEVASTATING INDOOR 
CASE BEFORE.
RAISING SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT 
WHERE ELSE THIS CHEMICAL IS 
USED.
>> TODAY IT'S USED PRIMARILY IN 
AGRICULTURE.
FOR INSTANCE, IT'S INJECTED INTO
THE SOIL OF STRAWBERRY FIELDS.
>> IF THE CHEMICAL IS PUT IN THE
GROUND NEAR THE STRAW BERSTRAWB 
HOW DO WE NOT GET IT IN OUR 
SYSTEM WHEN WE EAT THE 
STRAWBERRIES?
>> WELL, WE TRUST THAT THE 
STRAWBERRY PRODUCERS ARE MAKING 
SURE THAT THERE'S NOT EXCESS 
PESTICIDE RESIDUE ON 
STRAWBERRIES.
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO WASH THEM 
REALLY GOOD. 
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE 
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, 
FIELD WORKERS WERE POISONED AT A
CONNECTICUT NURSERY IN 1990, 
AFTER THE CHEMICAL WAS INJECTED 
INTO THE SOIL.
IN 2011, THE CDC REPORTS 
WAREHOUSE WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA 
WERE TAKEN ILL AFTER EXPOSURE
