It's the headlines that sparks fear into the nervous system of every Cruise Lines head office to see the words of Ebola and Cruise Ship in the same sentence.
Discussion concerning the Ebola virus compared to the general safety of cruising were rife across the Social Media following the news of a healthcare worker, who may have come in contact with the Ebola virus and was subsequently quarantined in her cabin on board a Carnival Cruise Ship.
In essence the Carnival Magic carried the Dallas hospital worker to a port in Galveston a day after a helicopter landed on the ship to pick up a blood sample from the passenger. Thankfully, the blood sample tested negative for Ebola, however the incident is proving to be a kind of wake up call for the Industry
At this juncture it's important for all future passengers to remain calm and understand that information is critical. As such here below are some critical points all passengers and crew should be aware of:
1. The best sources of information are:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- World Health Organization (WHO). Statement "the risk of infection for travelers is very low since person-to-person transmission results from direct contact with the body fluids or secretions of an infected patient."
2. The risks are very low unless:
- You are traveling to a country with an active Ebola outbreak
- You work in a health-related job and care for a patient with Ebola
- You live in close quarters with an infected person (spouse, children)
3. Exceptions
- Countries with a Level 3 Travel Health warning
- A Level 3 Travel Health warning from the CDC urges the public to avoid nonessential travel to a specific country or region.
In the case of Ebola, the warning covers most of West Africa with a specific focus on Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
4. Flight Travel
The WHO states, "Because the risk of Ebola transmission on airplanes is so low, the WHO does not consider air transport hubs at high risk for further spread of Ebola."
5. Cruise Ship Screening
Passengers embarking on a Cruise Ship are requested to complete a health screening questionnaire.
The questionnaire usually ask the following questions:
- About fever combined with other flu-related symptoms (cough, sore throat, runny nose)
- About vomiting and/or gastrointestinal distress
- If the passenger has arrived directly or through from a country designated with a Level 3 Travel Health warning , within 21 days before embarkation
- If embarking passengers had physical contact with or helped care for a person with Ebola
In the case of any of the above, passengers will be subject to more medical screening before boarding. These same questions are being put to crew. Moreover, Cruise Lines are now required to monitor where Cruise reservations are originating from, in addition to passport nationality and visa information, in booking and employment records.
6. Medical staff training on the Ebola virus
CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) has provided to the CDC and WHO medical guidance on Ebola for Cruise Lines with support from their medical teams. CLIA has also put together its own protocol utilizing the key CDC and WHO information, which addresses the core elements of preparedness, response and essential instructions for Cruise Line medical staff to follow.
Norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness. According to Roger Frizzell, senior vice president and chief communications officer for Carnival Corp., the cruise industry is better prepared for Ebola than many because of its history in screening for and combating Norovirus.
7. Cruise cancellations due to fears of Ebola
Think again! At the time of writing not one single Cruise Line permits passengers to cancel their cruise even several weeks before their scheduled sailing and receive full refunds. If you still decide to cancel, the port taxes and fees will be returned.
