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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    In all cases it is a legal requirement to ensure that inspecting staff are appropriately authorised, qualified and trained for the inspection of the type of vessel and the investigation With vessels not on regular scheduled stop, PHAs/LAs can request to view previous hygiene inspection reports and relevant documents, or may contact UK ports previously visited to ascertain historical compliance with legislative requirements. PHAS/LAs will wish to pre-determine the appropriate human, knowledge and equipment resources required for inspection of vessels arriving with and without on-board infectious disease and their management. Resources may include public health professionals from agencies such as the HPA and PCTs. In the case of a serious incident/outbreak PHAs/LAs in consultation with their local HPU may convene an outbreak control meeting. Serious incidents or large outbreaks require a ‘team approach’ and the involvement of appropriate experts. If there is concern for the ship’s safety, the MCA should be called upon to provide support to the OCG. The PHA/LA should form agreements/contact groups with relevant agencies to ensure that such support is available as needed, and that up to date contact details and communication channels are maintained. It is advisable that such contacts encourage exchange training of new and current staff at regular periods. It is recommended that mutual aid agreements should be drawn up between authorities to ensure extra staff are available should they be needed to investigate a large outbreak. Inspections of vessels must be planned thoroughly and include all areas and procedures relevant to the control and management of incidences of infectious disease and their management. Where there is a lack of familiarity with a vessel, the inspection team may need to be larger to ensure adequate coverage of all systems and areas. A deck/cabin plan of the vessel should be made available in advance of arrival in port. Investigations of incidents/outbreaks of infectious disease are likely to involve the taking of food and water samples and the submission of faecal samples from affected passengers. The laboratory should be warned as soon as possible if there is likely to be an influx of samples. This will enable the lab to ensure they have sufficient staff and resources to deal with the samples. An appropriate supply of faecal sample containers should be maintained by the PHA/LA. In the case of food and water samples PHAs/LAs are required to follow appropriate CoP and consider relevant guidance issued by the FSA, the HPA and the HSE. On receipt of notification of an incident/outbreak, the PHA in consultation with their HPU should request the vessel to arrange for the taking of faecal samples from affected passengers and crew for submission to examination in an on-shore laboratory in order to detect or discount pathogenic organisms. These may be submitted for examination en-route or on return to the UK. In the case of faecal samples submitted in the UK, the PHA/LA should