UPDATE: Quarantined Nurse Tests Negative for Ebola, Disembarks Ship

A Dallas hospital nurse who was reportedly in contact with specimen collected from a deceased Ebola patient, travelling on board Carnival Magic, managed to disembark the vessel having tested negative for Ebola.

The nurse disembarked with her loved one at the Port of Galveston on Sunday, October 19th, which is the homeport of Carnival Magic, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) President and CEO, Christine Duffy.

The nurse and her husband  have been prevented from entering Belize City to be airlifted to the U.S.A., as was requested by the US State Department.

Even though the passenger had low risk of Ebola, the Government of Belize decided “not to facilitate” the evacuation by saying that decision was taken that the passenger and her companion remain quarantined on board the ship out of caution.

The Government also added that it was imposing a ban on visas for all citizens from countries of the Western Region of Africa considered high risk for the Ebola virus. These include Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea, whereas a ban is being imposed to citizens from Sierra Leona who don’t need a visa to enter Belize. Also a travel ban is also being imposed on people who visited the affected area in Africa within the last 30 days.

In addition, the Government said that all cruise passengers will be vetted for entry by Immigration officers prior to disembarkation.

CLIA said that it has worked together with public health authorities to develop and distribute to all cruise line members strong protocols, and additional guidance, to reduce even further the already low risk of Ebola on a cruise ship.

These prevention measures apply to passengers, crew and visitors and include:

• Denial of boarding to anyone arriving from countries designated with a Level 3 Travel Health warning by CDC.
• Denial of boarding to anyone who traveled to, in or through those countries within 21 days before embarkation.
• “Contact screening,” in addition to travel history screening, and denial of boarding for anyone who had physical contact with, or helped care for, a person with Ebola within 21 days before embarkation.

“We are also actively engaged with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with other sectors of the travel industry, to assist the Federal government in quickly establishing a robust protocol for identifying any member of the traveling public designated by the CDC for monitoring,” Duffy added.

World Maritime News Staff