Sailor dies in Lithuanian port, suspected from bird flu

An Indian sailor who died in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda may have been infected with bird flu, the Lithuanian health ministry said.
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"A member of the crew of the ship M.V. Ocean Wind, Indian citizen Shaikh Rafikque, died in Klaipeda. The suspected cause of death is bird flu," a statement from the ministry said.
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"Rafikque, who was the ship's cook, fell ill on February 4, according to reports from the crew," the statement said.
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"He died in a medical emergency vehicle on Monday," it said.
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A preliminary autopsy will be conducted on the 62-year-old sailor's body in Klaipeda, with a more thorough analysis to be undertaken in the capital, Vilnius, within 48 hours, the health ministry said.
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The final results of the autopsy are expected in a few days, the statement said.
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The Ocean Wind arrived in Lithuania from Germany on January 17, the health ministry said. — AFP An Indian sailor who died in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda may have been infected with bird flu, the Lithuanian health ministry said.
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"A member of the crew of the ship M.V. Ocean Wind, Indian citizen Shaikh Rafikque, died in Klaipeda. The suspected cause of death is bird flu," a statement from the ministry said.
.
"Rafikque, who was the ship's cook, fell ill on February 4, according to reports from the crew," the statement said.
.
"He died in a medical emergency vehicle on Monday," it said.
.
A preliminary autopsy will be conducted on the 62-year-old sailor's body in Klaipeda, with a more thorough analysis to be undertaken in the capital, Vilnius, within 48 hours, the health ministry said.
.
The final results of the autopsy are expected in a few days, the statement said.
.
The Ocean Wind arrived in Lithuania from Germany on January 17, the health ministry said. — AFP An Indian sailor who died in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda may have been infected with bird flu, the Lithuanian health ministry said.
.
"A member of the crew of the ship M.V. Ocean Wind, Indian citizen Shaikh Rafikque, died in Klaipeda. The suspected cause of death is bird flu," a statement from the ministry said.
.
"Rafikque, who was the ship's cook, fell ill on February 4, according to reports from the crew," the statement said.
.
"He died in a medical emergency vehicle on Monday," it said.
.
A preliminary autopsy will be conducted on the 62-year-old sailor's body in Klaipeda, with a more thorough analysis to be undertaken in the capital, Vilnius, within 48 hours, the health ministry said.
.
The final results of the autopsy are expected in a few days, the statement said.
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The Ocean Wind arrived in Lithuania from Germany on January 17, the health ministry said. — AFP

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/99527.asp 

i wish there was more information on this guy.. and things like.. had chicken been served... is anyone else ill... how long had they been at sea.. was he kept in isolation after becoming ill... and why is BF the first thing they suspect... also... the ship looks like it docked jan. 17... that was .. what three weeks ago and he didn't get sick till feb 4? 

Where are the rest of the crew? 

Good question, Susie. If the Health Ministry, no less, are right, those people had better be getting quarantine for a fortnight with t/flu. 

And was it a direct sail from Germany, or did they make stops along the way. 

Wonder what Germany is doing in preventative measures.

Another question is...where did they offload their swill and what happened to it? They feed it to the pigs somewhere? 

Were or are they, the crew, allowed to leave the ship?
Have they been tested?
Did they make other stops/docks?
Where was the last known dock and did He get off the ship at that point?
Was he already sick? (17 day incubation? give or take)

Where in the H are the WHO?

If this is the Real Thing then we will be seeing hospitalizations and death show up in the next few days. I would imagine with the poor sailors on this ship being the first cases. Then Maybe the ports that they had already docked at.

Watch for news reports in these areas. 

I checked every english lith. newspaper i could find and couldn't find anything on it... hopefully soon.... 

On the basis of the media report, the story seems strange to me. On what symptoms do the Lithuanian officials base their bird flu diagnosis? Or is it more or less a Bird Flu test reflex for everybody that`s somehow suspect? 

"Rafikque, who was the ship's cook, fell ill on Feb 4...The Ocean Wind arrived in Lithuania from Germany on Jan 17, according to the
ministry.


2 or 3 rd time a ship involved another one was Portugal.
Not by air but by ship, it’s against all speculation of silver wings. 

OK, I'm sick, so sue me. I keep getting this mental replay of the FedX.com TV commercial.
<Employment agent> " So it says here you're a *pirate* with no formal training, with a parrot on your shoulder, and all you can say is 'Argh'?"
<Pirate> Arrrrghhh
<Parrot> Squawk 

Hey K, this is your backyard. Do you think this one's a knee-jerk, or are the Lithuanians sharper than that? It's hard to believe that they'd blow their very valuable tourism on a complete false alarm.

Maybe they're just trying to scare the last few thousands Sovs. back to Mother Russia? 

Don't worry. It won't be bird flu. 

Ship: OCEAN WIND
IMO Nr. : I 8314665
Flag: LIBERIA
Date and time of arrival : 2006-01-17 18:40
Agent: NAIR PALAKKAL
Quay No: DOKAS 219
Port company: AB "VAKARŲ LAIVŲ GAMYKLA"
Time and date of expected departure: Undefined


Data from: Klaipeda State SeaPort Authority Details Port of Klaipeda, Lithuania
http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/en.php...pping_rules/296
more exactly:
http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/en.php/_ships_in_port/206#


A Webcam http://www.portofklaipeda.lt/en.php/webcam/220 

Attached Images

  

As a joke I should say, “Relax, don’t panic this is not it and the Government will take care of you. “
Its just ironic it’s a ship with last port of call was Germany
I wont panic till Thursday if needed and I hope not, it’s too friking gold outside for BF this week.
Why any country would nowadays shout out suspect if there wasn’t a reason.
48 hours, it’s like the movie. It isn’t even Friday so can’t use Pinot if it’s not a WHO approved emergency. 

I have several possible scenarios buffeting around my brain.
1. Cook cuts up an infected chicken, and doesn't practice good safety practices.
2. Cook goes up on deck, puts hands on railing where sick bird has defecated. Cook then takes out cigarette, and using hand that touched bird dropping inserts in mouth.
3. Cook died of something other than H5N1. (I wonders why one of the first choices was bird flu?) 

Partial machine (dictionary) translation of a Lithuanian report (I'll work on the rest later):

Klaipėdos uoste, Liberijos laive nuo neaiškios ligos mirė jūreivis iš Indijos

Klaipėdos port, Liberian(?) ship from neaiškios patient/hospital die sailor from India
2006 M. VASARIO 6 D., PIRMADIENIS

Evening ship repair(?) undertaking teritorijoje, ship with Liberian(?) flag, Monday away/from neaiškios ligos die crew member - Indijos citizen.

Ship captain(?) in writing police atsisakė law(?) help/assistance, tiriant misfortune/disaster situation. So/thus pat he nesutiko, that/if būtų atliktas sailor skrodimas and demand/expect, that/if body būtų grąžintas into ship.

Of/from beginning/source declare/announce, that ship sail with Panama(?) flag.

Court(?) medicine institute Klaipėdos department leader Diomenas Vitkus BNS said while who/what not allowed paneigti, that/if Hindu mirė from kokios dangerous patient, however saugumo sumetimais bury(?) put/lie down into hermetic bag.

Pasak D.Vitkaus, 62 during virus ship dirbo cook.

"He vilkėjo combine/combination(?), mačiau only/merely appearance, look like terrible/horrible, see, that illness buvo įsisenėjusi," said he.

Ask/question, ar seaman(?) may(?) be ill paukščių gripu (bf), D. Vitkus teigė nenorįs spėlioti, while/until there is no doubt carry out experts....

http://www.lrytas.lt/naujienos/?id=...0&tema=1&view=2

Klaipėdos uoste, Liberijos laive nuo neaiškios ligos mirė jūreivis iš Indijos

Klaipėda, vasario 6 d. (BNS). Klaipėdoje, Vakarų laivų remonto įmonės teritorijoje, laive su Liberijos vėliava, pirmadienį nuo neaiškios ligos mirė įgulos narys - Indijos pilietis.

Laivo kapitonas raštu policijai atsisakė teisinės pagalbos, tiriant nelaimės aplinkybes. Taip pat jis nesutiko, kad būtų atliktas jūreivio skrodimas ir reikalauja, kad kūnas būtų grąžintas į laivą.

Iš pradžių paskelbta, kad laivas plaukiojo su Panamos vėliava.

Teismo medicinos instituto Klaipėdos skyriaus vadovas Diomenas Vitkus BNS sakė kol kas negalįs paneigti, kad indas mirė nuo kokios nors pavojingos ligos, tačiau saugumo sumetimais palaikai įdėti į hermetišką maišą.

Pasak D.Vitkaus, 62 metų vyras laive dirbo virėju.

„Jis vilkėjo kombinezoną, mačiau tik veidą, atrodė baisiai, matyti, kad liga buvo įsisenėjusi“, - sakė jis.

Paklaustas, ar jūreivis galėjo sirgti paukščių gripu, D.Vitkus teigė nenorįs spėlioti, kol nėra atlikta ekspertizė.

„Bet tokios tikimybės aš neatmetu“, - sakė jis.

Laikinasis Jūrų uosto policijos vadovas Remigijus Jurgilas BNS sakė, kad apie mirusį jūreivį užsienietį pareigūnams pranešta apie vidurdienį.

Laivo komanda vienam įgulos nariui iškvietė greitąją pagalbą, tačiau vyras mirė ant trapo, nešamas į greitosios pagalbos automobilį.

„Pagal Pakrančių konvenciją šio įvykio netirsime, nebent po skrodimo paaiškėtų, kad jis mirė nuo pavojingos užkrečiamos ligos“, - sakė R.Jurgilas.

Krovininis laivas iš vienos Afrikos šalių į Klaipėdos uostą atplaukė sausio 17 dieną.

Sveikatos apsaugos ministerijos Ekstremalių sveikatai situacijų centro direktorius Vytautas Gailius BNS nei patvirtino, nei paneigė, kad jūreivis galėjo sirgti paukščių gripu.

„Tai būtų spėliojimas. Absoliutus ir be jokio pagrindo“, - sakė jis.

„Šiuo metu Klaipėdos visuomenės sveikatos centras atlieka epidemiologinį tyrimą ir aiškinasi, ar tai (paukščių gripas- red.) yra tikėtina. Šis gripas gali pasireikšti, jeigu asmuo prieš savaitę lankėsi epidemiologiškai nepalankioje šalyje. O šitas laivas stovi Klaipėdoje nuo sausio 17 dienos“, - dėstė jis.

Anot V.Gailiaus, „paukščių gripas nuo žmogaus žmogui nepersiduoda“.

„Pavojaus gyventojų sveikatai nėra“, - patikino jis.

Sveikatos specialistai teigia, kad jeigu naujo tipo virusas atsiras užsienyje, jis neabejotinai pasieks ir Lietuvą. Tuomet gripas per kelias savaites išplistų visoje šalyje. Kol kas nėra duomenų, kad tarp paukščių lengvai plintantis gripo virusas H5N1 būtų įgijęs savybę keliauti iš vieno žmogaus organizmo į kito. Bet paukščių gripo paplitimas didina žmonėms pavojingos gripo pandemijos - itin didelės epidemijos - tikimybę.

+370 5 2681512
politika@bns.lt 

Weird. It would appear the ship has been in port since January 17th. But he doesn't fall ill until February 4th. Obviously before arriving in port, they were at sea. That's a loooong incubation period, especially for a gentleman of 62 years.

So... it's most logical, (although not certain), that he picked it up after the ship made port. Now - where & how?

For that matter what clear, distinct symptoms make them consider H5N1 as opposed to other respiratory illnesses?

What did he do when the ship was in port? I expect he had some ship's duties - haven't taken time to check the size of the ship or crew but he may have been involved in re-victualizing; stocking up on provisions for the ship's next run. If so, what establishments/offices did he visit? What did he do when he wasn't working?

Sure be curious to obtain that kind of detail. 

__________________
Bunnies love me, this I know
'Cause Arubi tells me so. 

All right, the initial report says he was Indian. I'm going to assume that he was from India, not a Native American. Is he in the custom of killing his own chickens for the pot? Or does he go to the open market and choose them out thinking he gets better quality that way?

I agree, a LOT of questions, the most important of which is WHY do they think he has bird flu? 

Mama,

Being shipbound I would have guessed that most of the food onboard was frozen or canned. Am I way offbase here everyone? 

Lithuania is about the cheapest country in the are so they would have been taking on at least some provisions but nowadays for a ship to stay in port for more than 5 days is, it doesn’t happen too expensive.


Edit The Liberian-flagged Ocean Wing came to Lithuania from Germany on January 17 to undergo repairs, the health ministry said. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,1011...3-38200,00.html End Edit

The Machine translation below says it all
No pun Theresa just thought this was catching and i apresiate work is still underway. 

Well, not a bad idea. For birds traveling across waters, a ship can been seen as an island. Just to rest or eat. So yes, sailors do have an increased risk of exposure. 

Here's my speculative imagination:

Many sailors continue to live on board ship while at dock (this is not their home port). The news item indicates the ship was undergoing repairs. They must be fed. The cook goes to the local market place to get fresh chickens. Either gets exposed there or brings back some freshly-killed chickens that are infected - they gets exposed de-feathering them, etc.

Probably a direct chicken/fowl to cook transmission. However - did he contaminate the kitchen, the other food, and by extension, the crew?

And where did the sick chickens in the market come from? 

Dead sailor may have had bird flu
From: Agence France-Presse
From correspondents in Vilnius

February 07, 2006

AN Indian sailor who died in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda may have been infected with bird flu, the Lithuanian health ministry said today.

"A member of the crew of the ship MV Ocean Wind, Indian citizen Shaikh Rafikque, died in Klaipeda today. The suspected cause of death is bird flu," a statement from the ministry said.
If avian flu is confirmed as the cause of death, it would be the first human case of the disease in the European Union.

"Rafikque, who was the ship's cook, fell ill on February 4, according to reports from the crew," the ministry said.

"He died in a medical emergency vehicle today," it said in a statement.

The Liberian-flagged Ocean Wing came to Lithuania from Germany on January 17 to undergo repairs, the health ministry said.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,1011...3-38200,00.html

Advertisement:

Although the health ministry said earlier a preliminary autopsy would be conducted in the port on Lithuania's western Baltic coastline, it later said the ship's captain, also Indian, has "not given permission for an autopsy, on religious grounds".

Doctor's at Klaipeda morgue, where the body of the 62-year-old sailor was being held, said no autopsy has been ordered or carried out.

Kazimieras Lukauskas, head of Lithuania's state veterinary and food service, said raw poultry was among foods loaded onto the ship in Germany, but played down the possibility that it was the cause of the sailor's death.

"We do not think that poultry used for food on the ship could be the cause of death", Mr Lukauskas said.

A special emergency team has been sent to Klaipeda to disinfect the ship, which had 30 crew - 29 Indians and one Ukrainian - on board, he said.

"Our emergency plan provides for crew members to undergo medical examinations," Mr Lukauskas said. 

Advertisement:
Although the health ministry said earlier a preliminary autopsy would be conducted in the port on Lithuania's western Baltic coastline, it later said the ship's captain, also Indian, has "not given permission for an autopsy, on religious grounds".
Doctor's at Klaipeda morgue, where the body of the 62-year-old sailor was being held, said no autopsy has been ordered or carried out.

say this ain't so-no autopsy! 

I hope they over-ride the no autopsy in the interest of public safety. 

Sampling isn't autopsy; the port also has sanctions to apply for leverage. NO permission to leave granted, poor documentation, vessel's repairs incomplete, anything you like to name... 

No reason to panic (not that anyone is) about where/how he contracted the disease until its known that he actually had h5N1. Hard to do without autopsy however. There have been several cases of sick airline passengers being quarantined in the past of 'suspected BF' that did not have it. As knowledge and fear about this disease becomes more widespread, such suspected cases and quarantining probably will become more and more common. 

__________________
.

Living well is the best revenge. 

Maybe IT IS NOT FROM SHIP AT ALL - maybe he got the virus in the area where most of the locals are immune to it or he was just unlucky to get it in a local restaurant or from some local lady he spent time with. 

Well, that sounds way off, being in Germany and Lithuania, two countries where H5N1 has not been registered. What about this suggestion:


Taken from:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,1011...3-38200,00.html

"A special emergency team has been sent to Klaipeda to disinfect the ship, which had 30 crew - 29 Indians and one Ukrainian - on board, he said."

Again, this is also way off, but maybe not as far as robync's suggestion ?... 

Just kidding.....

Cook aboard ship dies of "clinical" symptoms of avian influenza.

Dr.s say that there was temperature, difficulty breathing, weakness, bleeding from the throat.

In two days, word will come back that throat and nasal swabs were negative.

On third day, WHO will step in and say that it was heat stroak, caused by exaustion, hampered by lack of immediate medical care aboard ship. "IT IS NOT BIRD FLU".

On the fourth day, the ships Captain, check in to the local hospital with the same symptoms.

On the 6th day, Engish testing reveils that the Captain tested positive for H5, but that the cooks body was cremated at the request of the family.




This is not really what happened here, just what happened in Indonesia, Turkey, and Iraq.

On the fourth day, I am supposed to say that if it looks like a duck, quacks....yad yada yada. Then Dr. Niman will suggest the similarities between the symptoms and mention that bird flu does not need a passport. I will then chime in with "clinical presentation trumps testing". Then there will be 300 posts in 48 hours before the thread is closed and a new one started.

Deja vu.... 

I love the sarcasm Andy. 

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,1011...3-38200,00.html

ws Home | Story
Dead sailor may have had bird flu
From: Agence France-Presse
From correspondents in Vilnius

February 07, 2006


AN Indian sailor who died in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda may have been infected with bird flu, the Lithuanian health ministry said today.
"A member of the crew of the ship MV Ocean Wind, Indian citizen Shaikh Rafikque, died in Klaipeda today. The suspected cause of death is bird flu," a statement from the ministry said.

If avian flu is confirmed as the cause of death, it would be the first human case of the disease in the European Union.

"Rafikque, who was the ship's cook, fell ill on February 4, according to reports from the crew," the ministry said.

"He died in a medical emergency vehicle today," it said in a statement.

The Liberian-flagged Ocean Wing came to Lithuania from Germany on January 17 to undergo repairs, the health ministry said.

Although the health ministry said earlier a preliminary autopsy would be conducted in the port on Lithuania's western Baltic coastline, it later said the ship's captain, also Indian, has "not given permission for an autopsy, on religious grounds".

Doctor's at Klaipeda morgue, where the body of the 62-year-old sailor was being held, said no autopsy has been ordered or carried out.

Kazimieras Lukauskas, head of Lithuania's state veterinary and food service, said raw poultry was among foods loaded onto the ship in Germany, but played down the possibility that it was the cause of the sailor's death.

"We do not think that poultry used for food on the ship could be the cause of death", Mr Lukauskas said.

A special emergency team has been sent to Klaipeda to disinfect the ship, which had 30 crew - 29 Indians and one Ukrainian - on board, he said.

"Our emergency plan provides for crew members to undergo medical examinations," Mr Lukauskas said. 

Well we are all aware there is no BF in Lithuania. He must have traved to Turkey or the Crimea for the chickens he brought on board. Wonder if we can find any bird deaths or illnesses in Lith? Also it seems to have had a mainly Indian crew. Could there have been some sort of prepared foods that were dried and stored on board or in his personal belongings? Like all cultures he may have brought something he enjoyed eating from his home country. A lot of variables in this tale. 

Theresa42, thanks for the partial translation. Another lot of good work for you. Of course I don't understand a lot of it, but one thing struck me. The mention of the ship registered (or flying flags) of two seperate countries. I know that a lot of ships (cruise and otherwise) register as Liberian or Panamian. It sounds like this particular ship was registered as flying the Liberian flag when it ported at Lithuania but left under the Panamanian flag. Is this right? And why? 

1 info = 31 speculative posts !

my two cents! 

Can/will a forced autopsy be performed, against the Captains's will?

Am I right in thinking that an autopsy will show real results, negative or positive, without all of the guesswork? 

Mommers...the registry of ships is useless...they can be built in country A, bought by country B, registered in country C, D and E, they can change flags in mid ocean, be owed by a company that is registered in country F and registered to a leased party in country G. Terrible mess to find out who it belonged to. Since there are so many indians on board it may have been from India but not registered there. 

We aren't speculating, we are analyzing. We leave the speculating to the amateurs. 

Analyzing starts when the H5 is confirmed as being involved. Up to now we only have on suspected death.