Women have been the target of needle spikers and the Campaspe Crime Investigation Unit has issued a warning for women for be aware of dangers at entertainment venues.
Several needle spiking incidents have been reported in Echuca since late last year.
The CIU is not yet aware of what the women are being injected with.
Females who have been injected are experiencing adverse reactions, such as feeling unwell almost immediately.
Echuca CIU’s Detective Sergeant Barry Gray said: “People we’ve spoken to were having a night where there would be absolutely no reason for them to feel ill.”
The reaction lasts only for a short period of time, but has resulted in hospitalisations.
“They hadn’t eaten anything bad, they hadn’t had an excessive amount of alcohol. They just suddenly fell ill,” Det Sgt Gray said
Reactions to the jab are not to be confused with COVID symptoms as they are not flu-related, but instead present like stomach-related issues, including vomiting.
Reports have been made that targeted women have also had visible marks on their bodies.
Fortunately, all of the people who have reported incidents have made it safely home after the ordeal.
Concerns have been raised about whether some kind of assault could occur after the women have been spiked with the needle.
The CIU is also concerned someone who has been injected may feel unwell, then leave the venue, wander onto the road and potentially be hit by a car.
“The issue on its own is bad enough, but it can potentially have worse consequences that we all know are out there,” Det Sgt Gray said.
He said it was up to the venues to decide what safety precautions to adopt.
“We are talking to the places where the need spiking has happened. They are helping us where they can and we will help them where we can,” he said.
“I think it’s more of an issue that we should ask patrons to be aware of their surroundings, go out with friends and keep an eye on each other.
“There’s always been an issue globally with drink spiking. I think people need to see this as a reminder that yes spiking still goes on.”
The CIU is asking anyone who knows anything about the spiking to come forward by contacting the CIU, approach the Echuca police station or contact Crime Stoppers.
“We are looking to speak to the person, or people, who are responsible for the spiking,’’ Det Sgt Gray said.
“We also want to speak to people who think they might have been affected in some way, either directly or indirectly.
“Even if it’s a friend that’s fallen ill after being at a licensed premises — for no apparent reason — we want to know about it.
“It may, or may not, be related to what we’re looking at, but we’d still like to know.”