Page 230 - Vessel Sanitation Program 2018 Operations Manual

VSP 2018 Operations Manual

13.4.3.3 Specimens and Samples
Timely collection of medical specimens and FOOD and water samples is
important in the disease investigative process. The proper materials and
techniques for collection and preservation are a part of the planning. It is
important to periodically review these to make sure they are on hand and
ready to use in the event they are needed.

13.4.3.4 Ready to Use
A list of recommended medical specimen and FOOD sample collection
supplies for investigating AGE OUTBREAKS can be found in sections
13.4.5 and 13.4.6 of this annex.

Vessels with no medical staff aboard may choose to stock only the starred
items in 13.4.5.1 unless a qualified staff member aboard is capable of
performing venipuncture for collection of serum specimens.

13.4.3.5 Useful Information
To assist in the rapid evaluation of the extent of illness among passengers
and crew and identify the causative pathogen and associated risk factors,
VSP may request the following items:
• AGE OUTBREAK Action Plan for turnaround day.
• General OUTBREAK Prevention and Response Plan.
• AGE surveillance logs (previous and current voyages).
• AGE 72-hour questionnaires.
• Vessel’s itinerary (previous and current voyages).
• List of shore excursions, including lunch and BEVERAGE menus.
• Public vomiting/diarrhea logs (previous and current voyages).
• POTABLE WATER bunkering, production, and distribution logs.
• POTABLE WATER bacteriological testing records.
• POTABLE WATER maintenance records.
• Recreational water logs, including information about fecal and
vomit accidents.
• Vessel map of cabins with AGE CASES.
• Dining room seating maps with AGE passenger cases indicated.
• Dining room seating maps with AGE waiter and assistant waiter
stations indicated.
• All menus.
• Cooling logs for POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD.
• Vessel daily newsletters indicating guest activities.
• Letter for passengers embarking on turnaround day.
• Manifests for all groups of ≥15 people (groups traveling together).
• Manifests for shore excursions within 48 hours of first peak of
cases.
• Security gangway records for AGE CASES within 48 hours of
illness onset.

Annex 13.4: Acute Gastroenteritis Outbreak Investigation; 177