Infection control measures on ships and in ports during the early stage of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009.
Shipping companies were surveyed to evaluate the effect of public health measures during the  influenza A (H1N1) pandemic of 2009 on ship and port operations. Of 31 companies that operated  960 cruise, cargo, and other ships, 32% experienced health-screening measures by port  health authorities. Approximately a quarter of ports (26%) performed screening at embarkation  and 77% of shipping companies changed procedures during the early stage of the pandemic.  Four companies reported outbreaks of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 on ships, which were  ultimately stopped through infection control practices. Public health measures did not interfere  substantially with port and ship operations with the exception of some port authorities that  delayed embarking and disembarking procedures in a few ships. However, in the shipping companies'  experience, measures were inconsistent between port health authorities. Access to antiviral  drugs and pandemic vaccine was not provided in all ports. Current guidelines on medical  care, hygiene, and emergency procedures on ships need to address pandemic influenza preparedness  in future revisions.
Institute of Occupational and Maritime Medicine, Hamburg, Germany. Clara.Schlaich@bsg.hamburg.de
Clara
C
Schlaich
Bettina
B
Gau
Nicole J
NJ
Cohen
Kazunobu
K
Kojima
Nina
N
Marano
Daniel
D
Menucci
D014943:Global Health; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D058873:Pandemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012767:Ships; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel; D057236:Travel Medicine