Rare Fever May Be To Blame In Merchant Mariner's Death

WCVB TheBostonChannel.com ^ | Sep 8, 2004 | WCVB

[hedgetrimmer]

A Westport family is mourning their son after he fell victim to a rare illness aboard an international container ship.

NewsCenter 5's Rhondella Richardson reported that Chris Haley, 36, was a merchant mariner aboard the container ship Overseas Marilyn.

The ship left port in Western Africa in mid-August and Haley fell ill with a sore throat. He died Aug. 31.

Officials believe Haley contracted Lassa fever, a rare but deadly illness usually found in Africa.

"We don't have the body. We can't mourn. We don't know when he's coming home. We don't know if he suffered -- that's the thing that is killing us," said Haley's father, Peter Haley.

Haley was supposed to be home Wednesday.

The Overseas Marilyn and the crew of 20 are now under quarantine off the coast of Galveston, Texas, until Haley's autopsy is complete.

The last port of call for the bulk carrier was Casablanca, off the coast of Africa.

Haley's family said they drift from anger to mourning. They said a sore throat was all their son complained about in recent days.

"I'm left with a kid who had a sore throat for seven days and is dead. That's what I'm left with," said Haley's mother, Kelly.

"We feel it's Lassa (fever)," said Kurt Coopman, of the Galveston Health Department.

The Centers for Disease Control is testing Haley's blood and tissue for what would only be this country's second case of Lassa fever in 15 years. Lassa presents itself after contact with rodent droppings. Symptoms of Lassa fever include a sore throat, back pain, cough, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea; as well as neurological problems, including, hearing loss, tremors, and encephalitis. Because the symptoms of Lassa fever are so varied and nonspecific, clinical diagnosis can be difficult.

The Haleys are waiting for definitive word on their son's death and the return of his body.

"No one know how it feels unless it happens to them," said Peter Haley.

Haley, a 1996 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, wrote in his yearbook, "Away I go to the ocean blue."

[hedgetrimmer]

A ship, called the 'Overseas Marilyn,' waiting just outside the Houston Ship Channel near Galveston, Texas, flies a yellow quarantine flag Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, . The ship is under a voluntary quarantine as health officials try to determine whether one of its crew members died of Lassa fever, a virus that is common in West Africa. There were 20 crew members on the U.S.-flagged ship operated by OSG Shipping Management Inc which carried 24,800 metric tons of phosphate from Casablanca, Morocco. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard (news - web sites))


A ship, called the 'Overseas Marilyn,' waits just outside the Houston Ship Channel Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004 near Galveston, Texas. The ship is under a voluntary quarantine as health officials try to determine whether one of its crew members died of Lassa fever, a virus that is common in West Africa. There are 20 crew members on the U.S.-flagged ship operated by OSG Shipping Management Inc. which carried 24,800 metric tons of phosphate from Casablanca, Morocco. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard (news - web sites))

[potlatch]

Calling unspun!!

[Poundstone]

"Lassa presents itself after contact with rodent droppings."

Good Lord, what did the guy do to get this disease?

[spartan68]

Good Lord, what did the guy do to get this disease?

Probley just walked down the street, African Ports are Filthy beyond your wildest dreams! Been to way to many, in years gone by, I always tried to stay onboard ship...

[hedgetrimmer]

The cargo they picked up could have been contaminated.

[unspun]

Say it ain't so!

Merchant Seaman?

[potlatch]

I knew this would be upsetting, that's why I pinged you!!!