How to control cruise ship disease risk? Inspiration from the research literature

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic once brought the global cruise industry to a standstill. This has led to the realization that the development of viable disease risk management policies and measures will guarantee the sustainability of cruise tourism. The purpose of this study is to identify and develop a framework for risk management of cruise ship disease based on the research literature of cruise diseases in the Web of Science from 1996 to 2019. The study analyzed the characteristics of the literature researchers, the relationships between their research institutions organizations, the main cruise ship disease cases and measures. Based on the discussion of COVID-19 on cruise ships，risk management factors of cruise ship diseases were proposed，which include the port country's epidemic prevention capacity, the mode of disease transmission, the relevant regulations on international public health disposal, the design and construction of cruise ships, the medical and health conditions on cruise ships, and the characteristics of cruise tourism activities. A timeline and system framework for cruise ship disease risk management is proposed. A special "maritime mobile community prevention and control system" should be established, and a cooperation mechanism consisting of the government, non-governmental organizations, trade groups and industry experts should be established. The port should be capable of border isolation, detection and establishment of temporary shelter hospitals. At the same time, big data technologies such as disease tracking, investigation and health data are also important components of the risk management system.

Microbiome and virome on indoor surfaces of an Antarctic research ship

“… 11 , 42 In addition, implementing a comprehensive outbreak prevention and control strategy could reduce the impact of viral infection on vessels, particularly relevant in pandemic situations. 13 …”

“… 6 , 7 , 8 Pathogens such as norovirus, influenza virus, Legionella spp., Salmonella spp., E. coli , Vibrio spp., Mycoplasma pneumoniae , as well as vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, rubella, and varicella are well documented in cruise ships and military vessels. 2 , 3 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 More recently, the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in cruise and military ships, among other transportation facilities, has been well documented 4 , 5 , 13 with implications not only for the health of the crew but also contributing to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among different coastal locations and continents. 13 …”

“… 2 , 3 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 More recently, the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in cruise and military ships, among other transportation facilities, has been well documented 4 , 5 , 13 with implications not only for the health of the crew but also contributing to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among different coastal locations and continents. 13 …”

Cruising Under and Post the COVID Pandemic: Toward Realization of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

“…The cruise industry has promoted strategies to rebuild trust, attract customers, and resume cruising. Impacts of the pandemic on the financial loss, health, and infection control onboard are well studied (e.g., [25]). During a pandemic, infrastructure as a factor to increase the attractiveness of ports [15] may not be sufficient, whereas providing specific services and procurement needs play a crucial role [26].…”

Policy-driven or market-driven? A new perspective on the development of China’s cruise industry

“…Under the impact of COVID-19, these cruise ships were suspended temporarily. During the Covid-19 epidemic, cruise epidemic prevention and control, the risks in the cruise supply chain and the impacts of cruise ship anchoring have received great attention and discussion (Li et al, 2021b;Zhang et al, 2022;Zhou et al, 2023). This has also contributed to the formation of a new pattern in the cruise industry during the post-epidemic recovery process.…”