Brazil P&I our correspondents in Santos, Brazil, has provided us with the following information.
Quote
We attended a meeting with the São Paulo Shipping Agents Syndicate (SINDAMAR) further to their attendance of a meeting at the premises of the Santos Port Authority (CODESP), which was attended by the Harbour Master / Federal Police / Stevedores Company / Health Surveillance Agencies / Fire Department and Pilots, in which prevention procedures for suspected cases of the Ebola virus in Santos were discussed.
The Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency, ANVISA, should be informed of suspected cases of Ebola. The Port Authority will be responsible for advising the other responsible agencies and worker´s entities involved.
For vessels coming from the affected areas (Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone), the temperature of the crew members should be taken every two days. In cases, where there is a suspicion of the disease, the temperature of the crew members should be taken every four hours.
The Master should in both instances, prepare a report, sign it and send it to ANVISA.
The Medical Log Book has to be presented, when the request for the Free Practice is made via the Brazilian paperless port system, by vessels coming from the area affected by the virus “Ebola” or by vessels that made calls in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in the last twenty one days.
Although there are cases in Nigeria, all are resultant of a case from Liberia. In the current context, Nigeria is not considered as a possible source of cases that may come to Brazil.
The Medical Log Book is an indispensable tool for ANVISA to analyze the Free Practice request and it should be accompanied by the other required documents in the RDC 72 (*¹) modified by RDC 10 (*²),in order to avoid delays in the issuing of the Free Practice.
(*¹) Collegiate Board of Director Resolution n. 72, dated 29.12.2009. Provides for the technical regulation that aims to promote the health in ports under health control installed in the Brazilian territory and on the vessels calling those ports.
(*²) Collegiate Board of Director Resolution n. 10, dated 13.02.2012. provides an update of the standard that deal with the promotion of health in ports and vessels.
The Ministry of Health´s contingency plan includes a referral list of hospitals that treat infectious diseases, as well as, suspected cases of the Ebola virus, according to the location of the port. The disembarkment of suspicious cases or infected persons is attended by the government’s paramedic squad.
Contaminated areas and clothes on board the vessels must be fumigated and persons who had contact with the infected should be segregated for monitoring.
Unquote
Member Alert is published by The Swedish Club as a service to members. While the information is believed correct, the Club cannot assume responsibility for completeness or accuracy.