CDC Offers SARS Guidelines for Ships

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidelines for maritime personnel regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The three guidelines are somewhat redundant with each other. The first focuses on Personnel Boarding Maritime Vessels from Areas with SARS . The second focuses on Workers Handling Cargo or Other Packages . The third focuses on Cruise Ship Passengers and Crew Members . The guidelines point out that SARS appears to be spread by close person-to-person contact. Personal hygiene is important, particularly frequent hand washing with soap and water or a sanitizer. There is currently no evidence that SARS is spread through contact with objects. Use of personal protective equipment should be limited to those occasions when providing care to persons suspected to be suffering from SARS. Such persons should be promptly separated from contact with other persons and appropriate medical authorities should be notified. (SOURCE: Haight Gardner Holland & Knight "Maritime Items")