Preparedness for the prevention and control of influenza outbreaks on passenger ships in the EU: the SHIPSAN TRAINET project communication

V A Mouchtouri; N Black; G Nichols; T Paux; T Riemer; J Rjabinina; C Schlaich; C Menel Lemos; J Kremastinou; C Hadjichristodoulou; Collective for SHIPSAN TRAINET project

doi:10.2807/ese.14.21.19219-en

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Preparedness for the prevention and control of influenza outbreaks on passenger ships in the EU: the SHIPSAN TRAINET project communication
V A Mouchtouri¹ , N Black² , G Nichols³ , T Paux⁴ , T Riemer⁵ , J Rjabinina⁶ , C Schlaich⁵ , C Menel Lemos⁷ , J Kremastinou⁸ , C Hadjichristodoulou¹ , Collective for SHIPSAN TRAINET project¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece ² Health Protection Agency, Local and Regional Services, United Kingdom ³ Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London, United Kingdom ⁴ Department of Alert, Response and Preparedness, General Directorate of Health, Ministry of Health and Solidarity, Paris, France ⁵ Hamburg Port Health Center, Institute of Occupational and Maritime Medicine, Hamburg, Germany ⁶ Health Protection Inspectorate, Tallinn, Estonia ⁷ Executive Agency for Health and Consumers, European Commission, Luxembourg ⁸ Department of Public and Administrative Health, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece

Correspondence:
C Hadjichristodoulou
xhatzi med.uth.gr
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Citation style for this article: Mouchtouri V A, Black N, Nichols G, Paux T, Riemer T, Rjabinina J, Schlaich C, Menel Lemos C, Kremastinou J, Hadjichristodoulou C, for SHIPSAN TRAINET project Collective. Preparedness for the prevention and control of influenza outbreaks on passenger ships in the EU: the SHIPSAN TRAINET project communication. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(21):pii=19219. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.14.21.19219-en Received: 25 May 2009

Abstract

Passenger ships carry a large number of people in confined spaces. A case of the new influenza A (H1N1) virus aboard a passenger ship is an expected event and would lead to rapid spread of the virus, if preventive measures are not in place. However, many cruise lines have detailed policies and procedures to deal with cases of influenza like illness (ILI). The EU SHIPSAN and SHIPSAN TRAINET projects include in their objectives guidelines for the prevention and control of communicable diseases aboard passenger ships. A literature review showed that from 1997 to 2005, nine confirmed outbreaks of influenza were linked to passenger ships, with attack rates up to 37%. It is important to establish and maintain a surveillance system for ILI aboard passenger ships, in order to systematically collect data that can help to determine the baseline illness levels. Monitoring these will enable early identification of outbreaks and allow timely implementation of control measures.