title: The challenge and prevention of epidemics: experience from offshore petroleum installations and its extrapolation to ships.
abstract: The risk of epidemics represents an important challenge in offshore petroleum activities. All  personnel are needed for regular operations, and the outbreak of an epidemic will soon affect  the operations. The economical consequences can be vast. The risk of an epidemic is raised due  to the closeness of living and catering offshore combined with frequent changes of personnel  who travel offshore from many nations. The article is based on the experience gained by the  author during 22 years as a senior medical officer in a Norwegian oil company. Some endemics  and epidemics are described. None of these resulted in the shutdown of production, but they  still represented a major challenge to the company and to the medical staff in particular. The  transfer value from experience offshore to ships is obvious but there are differences. Risk analysis  and quality assurance systems play an important part in the prevention and limitation of  epidemics offshore. The infrastructure of the food supply chain as well as education and training  of personnel are key elements. Campaigns on different hygiene topics that address all  personnel are launched at regular intervals. Contingency plans must be established and be  ready for use in case of a threatening epidemic. Identification of the type and source of the  infection or food poisoning, isolation of the infected personnel, safe evacuation of patients, and  the establishment of other necessary barriers for reduction of spread of infection are necessary  to control an outbreak of an epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Maritime Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. ajul@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: Arne Johan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ulven
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007239:Infections; D009664:Norway; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010578:Petroleum; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012767:Ships / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum