Notification to Public Health Authorities of Ill Passengers and Crew on Ships Destined for the United States

Federal regulations

Pursuant to 42 CFR 71.21(a), CDC requires the master of a ship destined for a U.S. port to report immediately any death or any ill person among the ship’s passengers or crew. This includes those who have disembarked or have been removed from the ship due to illness or death. You must report immediately to the CDC Quarantine Station at or closest to the U.S. port of arrival any illnesses or deaths that occur during the 15 days before the ship arrives at the port, or during the period since the ship left a U.S. port (whichever period of time is shorter).

Required reporting

Ill persons displaying any of these conditions must be reported under federal regulations:

1. fever (a measured temperature of 100° F [37.8° C] or greater) lasting more than 48 hours;
2. fever of any duration, plus any one of the following symptoms:
   • rash,
   • swelling of the lymph glands, or
   • jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes); or
3. diarrhea (three or more loose stools or a greater than normal number of loose stools in a 24-hour period). Note: Cruise ships carrying 13 or more passengers should continue to report diarrhea cases to the CDC-Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP).

Requested reporting

In addition to the required reporting above, CDC requests that you report ill persons with the following conditions, which may also indicate a serious, communicable disease:

1. fever of any duration, plus any one of the following conditions:
   • difficulty breathing or suspected/confirmed pneumonia, or
   • cough for more than 2 weeks or cough with bloody sputum, or
   • headache with neck stiffness, or
   • reduced level of consciousness, or
   • unexplained bleeding.

To ensure reporting: The ship or its agent should immediately contact the CDC Quarantine Station at or nearest the port of arrival. CDC Quarantine Stations, their contact information, and
areas of jurisdiction are found at: http://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/QuarantineStationContactListFull.html. If contact cannot be made with the nearest station, please call the CDC Quarantine Duty Officer on call at 866-694-4867.

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/