engleski

A reminder of importance of implementing health preventive measures on board

The aim of this paper is to remind the importance of implementation of general and specific health prevention measures on ships, which are, due to new threats (pirates, cybercrime) pushed into the background. Still, they did not lose its importance. The importance of the implementation of general and specific preventive measures on board has been recognized since ancient times. Infectious diseases were and remained a threat in which ships could play an important role. Danger of various diseases has not disappeared: instead of plague and cholera there are Ebola, SARS, COVID-19 etc. Ship, as a mean of disease transmission, is still in the background of aircraft that is faster and therefore, in terms of infectious diseases spreading, more dangerous. On the other hand, large agglomerations of passengers on cruisers which usually sail in international trade bring new health hazards including outbreaks of infectious diseases. Probably, through the history rats’ parasites that inhabited ships brought most of the plague epidemic. Quarantine, as one of the most effective preventive measures, developed in time (1377) when disease transmissions were not known to Europeans. Since the transport of passengers and goods, without jeopardizing the health status and health safety, is of international importance no matter of international traffic, this area is regulated by a number of international documents that have changed over the years. International Health Regulation is an international document which regulates the movement of people and goods, meanwhile trying to get health safety and a smooth flow.

infectious diseases ; ships ; public health significance

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