By Associated Press and Alexandra Klausner for DAILYMAIL.COM

Sean, 16, and Ryan Esmond, 14, remain in a critical condition after a banned ‘pesticide’ was sprayed at a Caribbean resort

Father and mother, Stephen Esmond and Theresa Devine, continue to undergo therapy

The family fell ill after an applicator working for Terminix used the pesticide methyl bromide at the Sirenusa Condominium Resort in St. John

Two Delaware teenagers are still in critical condition more than six weeks after a banned pesticide was sprayed at the Caribbean resort where they were staying, their family said on Monday.

Sean, 16, and Ryan Esmond, 14, and their parents fell ill after an applicator working for Terminix used the pesticide methyl bromide at the resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The teens are hospitalized in Philadelphia.

Their father and mother, Stephen Esmond and Theresa Devine, continue to undergo therapy after falling ill, said the statement, which provided the first update on the family’s medical condition in a month.

‘The Esmond Family thanks the nation for its outpouring of support and concern for the family’s recovery from this unthinkable tragedy of pesticide poisoning during their family vacation,’ the statement said.

The Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice and authorities in the Virgin Islands are investigating.

The EPA said in April that its probe had found the toxic pesticide was used at the swanky Sirenusa Condominium Resort in St. John several times in the past, and may have improperly been used in Puerto Rico. The ritzy resort accused of the pesticide misuse costs $875 per night.

The agency banned the chemical for residential use in 1984.

Methyl Bromide, which is odorless, can be fatal or cause serious damage to the central nervous system and respiratory system, according to the EPA.

It is acutely toxic, and only permitted to be used outdoors by certified professionals in the US.

Elias Rodriguez US Environmental Protection said the investigation is ‘ongoing’ and the agency is still on the island for testing.

Sea Glass Vacations, which acts as a rental agent for several units at Sirenusa Condominium Resort, said the unit where the family was staying was not treated with a pesticide, but rather the unit immediately below their suite.

James Maron, the family’s lawyer,said when paramedics arrived at the villa, Stephen Esmond was found unconscious.

His sons and wife were having seizures.

The US Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation into the matter

‘The family is confident that those responsible will be brought to justice,’ the Esmonds’ statement said.

Stephen Esmond is head of a private middle school in Wilmington, Delaware, and Devine is a dentist in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Terminix, the Memphis, Tennessee-based pest-control firm, previously said it is cooperating with investigators and conducting its own internal inquiry.

IMAGES:

Critical condition: Sean, 16, (left) and Ryan Esmond, 14, (right) remain in critical condition after a banned ‘pesticide’ was sprayed at a Caribbean resort where they were staying

Undergoing therapy: Their father and mother, Stephen Esmond and Theresa Devine, continue to undergo therapy after the alleged poisoning

Posh resort: The family was staying at the $875-a-night Sirenusa Condominium Resort on St. John in the US Virgin Islands

Not so nice resort: The EPA said they found the toxic pesticide was used at the swanky Sirenusa Condominium Resort in St. John several times in the past, and may have improperly been used in Puerto Rico

For more on this story go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3067587/Family-Teens-critical-6-weeks-resort-poisoning.html#ixzz3ZMEulRBl

See related iNews Cayman story published April 7 2015 “Poisoned Del. dad, 2 sons still critical from pesticide” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/poisoned-del-dad-2-sons-still-critical-from-pesticide/