Will they arrive on time?Crew infected! The largest German battleship in the navy is trapped in paradise
Sea voyages are fun – unfortunately this one wasn’t.
About 240 crew members were stuck in Bermuda on the navy ship “Berlin” for days. It is unclear whether they will return to Wilhelmshaven before Christmas. The reason is, several pathogens are rampaging on the ship and paralyzing the entire crew.
Sick and stranded in Bermuda
The stop of “Berlin” in the North Atlantic port of Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital, was not planned. “The purpose of this arrival is to provide the best care for those who are sick and to protect the crew after an infectious disease spread on board.”a German Navy spokesman said at dpa’s request. But what exactly is the crew missing? The reason is, reportedly many people were affected so the ship could not continue its journey.
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The Navy keeps a low profile
For “operational reasons,” the Navy did not provide further information about the type of disease or the number of crew members affected. The Wilhelmshavener Zeitung reported that there were many cases of flu. And that’s not all.
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Fever, fatigue and itchy blisters
Apart from the flu, several crew members were also reported to be suffering from chicken pox. Typical symptoms include fever, fatigue, and an itchy rash. Typically, chicken pox is more severe and carries a higher risk of complications than in children, but fortunately this is not a problem on naval ships. “The number of infections has been decreasing for several days,” a navy spokesman said. The situation on board and the infection process are being closely monitored and are not expected to be too severe.
It remains unclear whether sick people should be sent home. In the meantime, there was at least enough time to replenish food supplies. Because “Berlin” still had a long way home: Germany’s largest warship had to travel all the way to the north of Germany, to Wilhelmshaven. We can only hope that the navy ship can still arrive on time to celebrate Christmas and that the crew can celebrate it with their families healthily and happily.
Sources used: dpa, NDR, Wilhelmshavener Zeitung
