Fears in New Caledonia of swine flu transmission from cruise

Updated May 29, 2009 16:11:55

It is now known that some passengers and crew were carrying the swine flu virus when they disembarked the Pacific Dawn cruise liner in Sydney, just days after visiting New Caledonia. The Director of the Department of Health in New Caledonia is questioning the reliability of health declarations submitted to authorities before the ships' arrival. A number of people on the island who in contact with passengers are now being tested for the virus, and 85 people are being monitored.

Presenter: Kate McPherson
Speaker: Dr Jean-Paul Grangeon, Director of the Department of Health in New Caledonia

MCPHERSON: Cruise liner Pacific Dawn arrived in New Caledonia on May the 21st and 500 people disembarked for a day of French Pacific fun. The P&O Cruises' vessel had already submitted a Declaration of Health to officials in New Caledonia that said no passengers had presented with flu like symptoms. However it is now known that at least 18 passengers and three crew members tested positive for swine flu after the ship's voyage ended in Sydney at the weekend.

The Director of the Department of Health in New Caledonia, Doctor Jean-Paul Grangeon, says he is concerned about the reliability of the Declaration of Health.

GRANGEON: Until now I was relying on the declaration of health. I'm still wondering whether it's reliable or not.

MCPHERSON: The Pacific Dawn submitted its Declaration of Health 48hours prior to arrival in New Caledonia, as required by international health regulations. The Director of Health says following the Pacific Dawns' departure, there are now at least five suspected cases of swine flu in New Caledonia and official diagnoses are pending. Dr Grangeon says action would have been taken by New Caledonian authorities if the cruise liner had reported sick passengers.

GRANGEON: The Maritime Declaration of Health that was submitted to us prior to arrival was saying that nobody was ill on board. If they had said the opposite we would have come on board, I would have, my navel staff would have come on board to see what was happening. And make sure people disembarking could wear a mask or maybe just say they couldn't disembark if some flu outbreak was on the ship.

MCPHERSON: Dr Grangeon says the Health Department is monitoring 85 people who are known to have had contact with passengers from the Pacific Dawn; however, he is concerned for those people who may not have received the message of caution.

GRANGEON: For the people on Loyalty Islands who have been in contact with those passengers or crew members, we are following them and making sure that not one of them is ill but we never know because maybe some people were in contact but we can't get in touch with those people or they didn't go to the health authority to say they were in contact with those passengers.

MCPHERSON: Dr Grangeon says he relies on medical doctors on board cruise liners, to make sure health declarations reflect the conditions of passengers and crew on board.

GRANGEON: For the cruising ships, they have a medical doctor on board, and we are relying on the Declaration of Health of the doctor on board and that is what the international health regulation is saying.

MCPHERSON: New Caledonia's Director of Health says he's now approached the owners of Pacific Dawn, and requested more information about the health of crew and passengers before the ship's arrival in New Caledonia.

GRANGEON: I already asked the company if they had patients on board and I want to have the truth. I want to know now what happened before they arrived in New Caledonia. I'm asking the health authorities in Australia to investigate that and I hope I will find answers.

MCPHERSON: The ships owners maintain that the health declaration was accurate at the time it was submitted to New Caledonian authorities.