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Indian sailor dies of suspected avian flu
An Indian sailor, who died in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda on Monday, may have been infected with avian flu, a media report said.
An Indian sailor, who died in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda on Monday, may have been infected with avian flu, a media report said.
The crew of the 'Ocean Wind' merchant vessel sailing under the Liberian flag had summoned ambulance after its cook, 62-year-old Indian Shaikh Rafikque seriously fell ill, Ekho Moskvy radio reported.
However, Rafikque died on the stretcher while being carried from the ship to ambulance van.
Lithuanian doctors are conducting the tests to ascertain the cause of the Indian's death including avian flu as due to his cooking job he was in close contact with bird flesh.
A preliminary autopsy will be conducted on the sailor's body in Klaipeda, with a more thorough analysis to be undertaken in the capital, Vilnius, within 48 hours, Lithuanian health ministry said in a statement.
The final results of the autopsy are expected in a few days, it said.
The Ocean Wind arrived in Lithuania from Germany on January 17.
No further details were immediately available as there is no Indian diplomatic mission in this Baltic republic.
