• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
Residents of Portland can now opt in to receive text alerts when an infectious disease outbreak is reported aboard a cruise ship scheduled to call at the city's harbor.
Local activists describe the system as the first of its kind in the area, providing advance notification of potentially contagious passengers arriving by cruise ship. The initiative was developed following concerns raised during an outbreak aboard Oceania Cruises' Oceania Insignia, which docked in downtown Portland last autumn. More than 13% of passengers were reportedly affected by norovirus during the incident.
Matthew Day, co-founder of the volunteer group Portland Cruise Control, said the notification system was developed in response to that episode. He also questioned whether cruise lines could be relied upon to consistently report outbreaks because of the potential commercial implications.
The cruise line involved in the earlier incident said affected passengers and crew members were isolated and that enhanced disinfection procedures were implemented. Day noted, however, that norovirus can be transmitted before symptoms become apparent and argued that advance information could allow local residents and businesses to take appropriate precautions.
Under current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements, cruise ships must report when at least 3% of passengers or crew members are affected by gastrointestinal illness when an international port is included in the itinerary. Reporting requirements for domestic cruises are less extensive.
Portland Cruise Control is calling for more consistent reporting standards and additional sanitation measures, including hand-washing facilities for passengers leaving cruise ships. Day also argued that local authorities and health departments may need to assume a greater role in outbreak monitoring amid reductions in CDC staffing and funding.
He said Portland could establish its own reporting requirements, including direct notification from cruise ships to the harbor master or local public health authorities rather than relying exclusively on federal reporting channels.
Cruise activity and visitor spending remain significant contributors to Portland's economy. The Cruise Lines International Association has said that the cruise industry remains committed to responsible tourism and managed growth in Maine.
Day said the group was particularly concerned about employees of downtown businesses who interact directly with cruise passengers. Portland Cruise Control plans to continue working with the city council on measures intended to improve communication between cruise operators, local authorities and the public during infectious disease incidents.