Estimating the Risk of Communicable Diseases aboard Cargo Ships. J Travel Med. 2009 Nov 1;16(6):402–6.

Author: Schlaich CC, Oldenburg M, Lamshöft MM.

Summary: This study assesses baseline disease activity on cargo ships under the German flag. During the course of more than 1.5 million person-days of observation, 21% of visits to the ship’s infirmary were for potentially communicable disorders (45.8 consultations per 100 person-years). For acute respiratory symptoms, as many as 33.9 patients per 100 person-years sought medical assistance. The acute respiratory disease caused 66 of the 68 outbreaks that matched established criteria, with an additional 12 outbreaks caused by influenza-like illness. Attacks afflicted between 3 and 10 seafarers each ship (12.5%-41.6% of the crew). There were two episodes of gastrointestinal disease discovered.