Portland Introduces Cruise Ship Outbreak Text Alerts
Residents can opt in for notifications about reported infectious disease outbreaks aboard ships scheduled to visit the Maine city.
Portland, Maine, residents can now enroll in a text alert system that provides notice when an infectious disease outbreak is reported aboard a cruise ship due to call at the city’s harbor. Local activists describe the service as the first of its kind in the area.
The initiative followed concerns surrounding an outbreak aboard Oceania Cruises’ Insignia when the ship docked in downtown Portland last autumn. More than 13% of passengers were reportedly affected by norovirus. The cruise line said ill passengers and crew members were isolated and enhanced disinfection measures were put in place.
Current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements mandate a report when gastrointestinal illness affects at least 3% of passengers or crew and the ship’s itinerary includes an international port.
Portland Cruise Control is seeking more consistent reporting standards and further sanitation measures, including hand-washing facilities for passengers disembarking from cruise ships. The group also plans to continue working with the city council on communication among cruise operators, local authorities and the public during infectious disease incidents.