CLIA/FCCA Active With Destinations on H1N1 Policies

Seatrade Insider
August 21, 2009

Cruise Lines International Association and Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association have been assisting Caribbean nations in developing regional guidelines to establish consistent procedures for dealing with the H1N1 virus and cruise ships. Caribbean leaders are reviewing a document of uniform policy that is expected to be approved shortly.

'We have had input. It is their product,' CLIA evp Michael Crye told Seatrade Insider. He said the cruise industry has been working with CARICOM and the Caribbean Tourism Organization on the guidelines, mainly by fostering understanding about H1N1 and how to effectively manage it.

Using enhanced screening protocols and disinfection procedures approved by public health officials, CLIA ships so far have managed to stem H1N1 outbreaks. Very few cases of what is commonly called swine flu have emerged on cruise vessels worldwide.

That hasn't stopped concerns by local authorities about possible ship to shore transmission. In past months a handful of vessels have been diverted from St. Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, Australia's Queensland and Oman. Several European countries have also threatened to turn cruise ships away.

According to Crye, the industry has been working to inform destinations that cruise ship protocols include isolating, treating and not landing ill patients unless there is great medical need to do so. 'We want to reassure them that we're taking this very seriously & We're acting responsibly and not bringing the illness to them,' he said.

Cruise officials participated in an H1N1 summit in Cancún and a meeting called by Caribbean health ministers in Barbados. 'That has culminated in a document that is pretty close to being released that's an excellent example of the cooperation between the cruise industry and the destinations,' Crye said.

Cruise lines will also be represented at a World Tourism Organization H1N1 summit in Madrid next week and at an upcoming meeting in the Bahamas.

'We want to reassure that we have a healthy atmosphere on board,' Crye told Seatrade Insider, adding that the industry aims to 'dispel any fear that this is a plague. This is an illness that so far has not been any more severe than common flu.'

His position is supported by the World Health Organization's stance. H1N1 is pandemic, but WHO has not recommended travel restrictions. Based on scientific evidence and input from member states, WHO currently assesses the virus as 'moderate,' reflecting the fact that most people recover from infection without the need for hospitalization or medical care.

Still, WHO is urging countries to prepare for spikes in upcoming regional flu seasons, and particular concern is focused on the ability of developing countries to manage and treat the virus. At a health summit today in Beijing, a WHO official warned there will soon be an uptick in H1N1's global spread. 'At a certain point, there will seem to be an explosion in case numbers,' the official said, according to an Associated Press report.

Crye acknowledged predictions the virus will come back 'in a big way' during the [Northern Hemisphere] flu season. 'We will try to be in a position where we are minimizing the spread of the illness. It is common throughout society. It is certainly not a cruise ship illness,' he noted.