Handbook for the management of public health events on board ships

Overview

The purpose of this handbook is to assist competent authorities at the local level to manage potentially internationally significant public health events at ports. This document addresses events which have the likelihood of adversely affecting the health of the human population, may spread internationally, or may present a serious and direct danger to health. It follows an all-hazard approach, but addresses events related to biological hazards in more detail than those related to chemical and radiological hazards. This technical advice intends to assist competent authorities at ports to conduct risk assessment in the context of IHR , to respond in a consistent manner to events and to make decisions on interventions that are commensurate to the risks, while avoiding unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.