The World Health Organization (WHO) has prepared a guidance document regarding pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 and the public health emergency of international concern.

The target audience for this document includes competent authorities at ports, national public health officials, as well as ship operators, port administrators, other port personnel, ship crew members, and other port authorities and stakeholders involved in ship travel.

This guidance is intended to support countries in reducing human exposure to infectious agents at ports and during ship voyages and to improve the response to health related emergencies by establishing mechanisms for rapid intervention, particularly when suspect cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection are detected during a voyage.

WHO Interim technical advice for case management of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 on ships can be found here.

e-mail: eva@vta.ee