Guidance for the management of norovirus infection in cruise ships / Norovirus Working Group.

  • Novovirus Working Group
Date:
2007
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Guidance for the management of norovirus infection in cruise ships / Norovirus Working Group. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    advised to maintain a presence in ports which enables the gathering of intelligence of the presence of disease on board vessels. On receipt of a notification and assessment of information received, the PHA/LA, according to locally agreed plans should contact the local CCDC or HPU, who will provide support and assistance in the management of the incident or outbreak according to the nature or severity of the infection, and ensure that the health needs of ill travellers are met. PHAs/LAs, HPUs, vessels and their agents should ensure that they maintain the relevant contact details. The management of appropriate on-shore facilities is the responsibility of the port operator under the Health and Safety at Work Act etc., 1974. PHAs/LAs should agree and document with port operators and vessel management the provision, maintenance, cleaning and disinfection of on-shore facilities and amenities. In the case of serious incidents/outbreaks a procedure should be developed which separates potentially infectious disembarking and embarking passengers either through physically separated routes or time separated with enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures. The carriage of passengers to and from the terminal may give rise to the spread of infec- tion. Operators of all vehicles used to carry passengers should be aware of the precautions needed to prevent the spread of disease and methods of cleaning and disinfecting. When notifications of incidents/outbreaks are received by the PHA/LA, they should notify the port operator and vessel, in advance of the vessel’s arrival, that enhanced measures will be required. PHAs/LAs should visit the terminal facility servicing the vessel to ensure that all procedures are operational. 6.2 Investigation procedures Investigation procedures will vary according to conditions, reported local plans, assessment and practices and should be agreed prior to the occurrence of incidents/outbreaks. Reference should be made to the Department of Health’s (DH) guidance on Outbreaks of infectious Disease and in consultation with the local HPU. Inspections of vessels should be carried out according to Codes of Practice (CoP) issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), with consideration of regulations issued by the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) and guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the HPA. Vessels operating a food business are required to maintain a food safety management system based on the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). The vessel’s system of control provides essential information on which inspections may be based and will often be part of an overall ship safety management system, including procedures for dealing with incidents and outbreaks of infectious disease. In the case of vessels regularly visiting a port, PHAs/LAs should ensure that they are familiar with the vessel and relevant