International Disease Prevention and Control

-Automatic translation

The International Health Regulations (IHR)
The World Health Organization (WHO-1948) has, since its inception, a.o.t. took the lead in coordinating epidemic prevention measures to prevent the spread of infection
devices between countries. In the International Health Regulations from 1969, in this regard, the main objective was to prevent three infectious diseases; black death, cholera, and yellow fever. The inspection of ships was mainly aimed at checking whether there were rats on board the ships, and it was the responsibility of the district doctors to call in a pest control officer to carry out such an inspection. After the inspection, a so-called rat extermination certificate was issued, but such certificates have now stopped being issued because this control has become part of what is checked during ship inspections (see later in the text).

In 2005, a new International Health Regulation (IHR) was approved, which entered into force in 2007, and its provisions have been incorporated into Icelandic legislation. It deals with measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and pests and to prevent the spread of toxins and radioactive substances. The Chief Epidemiologist is Iceland's liaison with the corresponding contact of the World Health Organization by the provisions of the IHR.

According to the International Health Regulations, all ships intending to land must:

• to submit a Maritime Declaration of Health, see pages 59 and 60 of the International Health Regulations and

• have a valid quarantine exemption certificate available (not older than 6 months), see p. 52 and 53 in the International Health Regulations

Ship inspections - exemption from disease prevention or disease prevention certificate
The International Health Regulations stipulate in Article 39 that ships must undergo a special inspection at least every 6 months to get it certified that there is nothing in the ship that could threaten public health. Such a certificate is obtained after a thorough inspection, which is carried out according to the World Health Organization's Manual on Ship Inspections, by trained personnel (health officials). During ship inspections, health officials also use the European Manual on Hygiene Standards and the Control of Infectious Diseases in Passenger Ships (2nd Edition 2016), and the issuance of quarantine exemptions and quarantine certificates under the World Health Regulations.

The World Health Organization maintains a list of the ports that can provide this service to ships, Iceland is on p. 33. If an inspection reveals that something is lacking, a disease prevention certificate is issued that defines the actions to be carried out on the ship so that it can receive a quarantine exemption certificate and sail freely between countries. These certificates replace the rat extermination certificates previously mentioned. In the future, international ships will be able to receive such an inspection in various Icelandic ports, which are specified in the appendix of regulation 747/2009 on the amendment of the hygiene regulation, and receive the appropriate certificate. The certificates must be renewed every 6 months and a fee must be paid for this service according to the tariff of the relevant Health Authority.

SHIPSAN ACT Joint action is a joint project of 32 parties from 24 European countries. Iceland participated in the collaboration that lasted from 2013-2016. The project dealt with the health effects that can follow sea transport due to biological, chemical, and radioactive pollutants, including infectious diseases.

Objective:

• Create possibilities and facilitate electronic communication, e.g. from ship to port, between ports, or from port to the Chief Epidemiologist.

• Information system for issuing quarantine certificates according to The World Health Organization.

• Database to keep track of performed ship inspections.

• Provide courses both within each country and within Europe.

• Formulate a framework for a method to assess risk and health consequences by type of cargo ship.

See more: http://www.shipsan.eu/