Falklands : Ship- born Virus Attack - Are the Falklands Prepared?
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 07.07.2009 (Article Archived on 21.07.2009)
A cruise ship familiar to Falklands’ waters, the M/S Marco Polo, has been quarantined due to an outbreak of norovirus – a nasty stomach bug that causes severe vomiting.
Ship- born Virus Attack - Are the Falklands Prepared?
An Editorial by J. Brock (FINN)
A cruise ship familiar to Falklands’ waters, the M/S Marco Polo, has been quarantined due to an outbreak of norovirus – a nasty stomach bug that causes severe vomiting.
We all know what such an attack can cause if it happens on Tristan da Cunha , St Helena or Ascension Island but the general public hasn’t shown too much knowledge about what to do if it happens here.
At present we worry about Swine Flu from aircrafts but FINN knows first hand what consternation for passengers and crew can happen if a ship is threatened with quarantine due to an out-break of illness. Pressure is put on shipboard medical authorities not to report illness to authorities prior to visiting an Island or Port. To my knowledge, this hasn’t happened here but it could if the wrong person has the shipboard authority at the time fare paying passengers exert pressure to cover up any shipboard virus outbreak.
FINN feels that more strenuous warnings should be given to medical staff members on cruise vessels as well as more thorough inspections not only of travel insurance policies but also of cruise vessels prior to letting people ashore.
If an illness can affect a small population, it can also be very unpleasant for us. We need to be prepared.
Related stories:
The man was holidaying with his wife on the British vessel the Marco Polo when the suspected norovirus struck.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2521013/Man-dies-and-150-ill-after-bug-spreads-through-cruise-ship.html
The Sun - Kenny McAlpine - ý32 minutes agoý
The man was holidaying with his wife on the British vessel the Marco Polo when the suspected norovirus struck. Docked ... the Marco Polo tied up in ...
Man dies as bug hits cruise ship BBC News
Man dies after virus hits ship The Press Association
Man dies in cruise ship bug outbreak Telegraph.co.uk
AFP - Sky News
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