Egyptian Sailor Dies in Brazil From Anthrax- Brazil Police

Reuters ^ | April 28, 2003

[Shermy]

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - A crew member of an Egyptian merchant ship has died in northern Brazil, almost certainly from anthrax, after opening a suitcase suspected of containing the substance which he was taking to Canada.

A spokesman for Brazilian federal police in the Amazon state of Para said on Monday an autopsy of the Egyptian man, whom he named as Ibrahim Saved Soliman Ibrahim, showed that he had died after vomiting, internal bleeding and multiple organ failure.

"He was the victim of anthrax," said Castro, adding that police were 90 percent certain that Ibrahim had died of anthrax.

Ibrahim died in the hotel were he was staying on April 11. Several health workers who found his body were taken to a hospital after becoming ill but are now out of danger.

Ibrahim had traveled to Brazil from Cairo to join his ship, the Wabi Alaras, which loaded bauxite in the Amazon to take to Canada.

"We imagine that this is about bioterrorism and Brazil was just used as a point of transfer," said Castro.

Ibrahim died before his ship sailed to Canada, where it was quarantined by authorities last week.

Canada was alerted about the ship through Interpol.

Castro said Ibrahim had been given the suitcase in Cairo by an unidentified person and was due to deliver it to somebody in Canada. But he doubted Ibrahim knew what the content of the bag was otherwise he most likely would not have opened it.

"He opened it because he was curious," Castro said.

After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, five people died in still-unsolved anthrax mailings.

[_Jim]

How long is the boat ride from Egypt to Brazil?

From post #96 we have this:

Ibrahim traveled from Cairo and stayed in a hotel in Brazil while he waited for the Wadi Al Arab to arrive.

Do you really think he took a ship to meet a ship he was to 'crew' on? I suggest that he flew ...

[evolved_rage]

How Clintonesque of the RCMP. No threat to Canada, because they know the case was headed towards the US...Who'd attack peace-loving socialist Canadians.

[_Jim]

How 'bout ingested?

We just covered that with a discussion about 'gastro-intestinal' Anthrax (IOW 'where does your food go when you swallow it?') ...

[nicmarlo]

According to some of the reports,he flew from Egypt to Brazil.

This is new info. to me.....very interesting. This makes it more likely, I would think, that he got infected in Egypt.....he died how many days AFTER he flew into Brazil? What is the normal gestation period before symptoms occur? Do we know this (is it something like 48 hours? I can't remember). I don't recall reading when/where he picked up the suitcase....in Brazil? Or did he bring it with him to Brazil?

[nicmarlo]

I'm not able to read every post, Jim; I'm not at home and can only come in and out of here, reading as much as is possible.

[_Jim]

This information should be available today, so people can make choices.

Like panic or not-panic?

Like duct tape and platic sheeting versus ????

[blam]

"Why single this one out? I suspect the news channel got a tip that something was up."

It does sound like something 'more than routine' was going on. I agree.

[_Jim]

I'm not able to read every post,

But you SURE have time to make posts!

[nicmarlo]

I would also appreciate your being a bit less caustic with your remarks; I'm not stupid, just don't have the luxury of reading every post, as you must be able to right now. Thanks, Jim.

[aristeides]

He apparently picked the suitcase up in Cairo and brought it to Brazil.

[Fitzcarraldo]

It does sound like something 'more than routine' was going on. I agree.

Perhaps the name "wadi al Arab" was coming up alot in the "chatter".

I understand the Brazilians have the suitcase in question?

[_Jim]

I would also appreciate your being a bit less ...

Prolly not gonna happen, seriesly ...

[aristeides]

I understand the Brazilians have the suitcase in question?

They say they're going to examine it after they finish examining the body.

[nicmarlo]

Then, as thumper's dad said, "if you haven't got anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." : )

[nicmarlo]

He apparently picked the suitcase up in Cairo and brought it to Brazil.

Thanks, aristeides.....

[_Jim]

And *you're* the one who has time to *post* but doesn't have the time to *read! LOL!

Okay - back to the thread ...

[aristeides]

MSNBC? I wonder if they reported the story on the air.

[nicmarlo]

I'm certainly glad I've never had the misfortune to bump into you previously, seriesly.