Infectious Diseases on a vessel
Dover Port Health Authority is responsible for the control of infectious disease affecting passengers and crew on vessels that arrive in Dover. The public health (Ships) regulations 1979 ( as amended in June 2007) , which reflects the provisions of the international health regulations 2005, are the legal basis for these duties.
Suspected Disease on board a ship
The master of the vessel arriving in Dover from a foreign port MUST by law notify the authority by submission of a Maritime Declaration of Health, of any suspected infectious disease or death on board amongst crew, passengers, or animals/ birds. This report should be made not less than 4 hours and not more than 12 hours before arrival.
Such reported incidents include:
A. The occurrence on board ship before arrival of the death of a person otherwise than as a result of an accident, or
- illness where the person who is ill has or had a temperature of 38 dregess or greater which was accompanied by a rash, glandular swelling or jaundice, or where such temperature persisted for more than 48 hours, or
- illness where the person has or had diarrhoea severe enough to interfere with work or normal activities.
B. The presence on board of a person who is suffering from an infectious disease or who has symptoms which may indicate the presence of an infectious disease
C. Any other circumstances on board which are likely to cause the spread of infectious disease or other danger to public health; and
D. The presence of animals or captive birds, and occurrence of mortality or sickness amongst such animals or birds.
Download Maritime Declaration of Health here.
Further information on infectious disease can be found by visiting the UK Health Security Agency website at UK Health Security Agency- GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).