The Panama Canal Authority, in coordination with the country's Ministry of Health (MINSA), is taking the following measures to prevent the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and protect Canal workers and customers.
The Maritime Sanitation Unit of MINSA is the authority responsible for investigating and authorizing the necessary clearance to board vessels with suspicious or reported EVD cases.
The following actions are being implemented by the Panama Canal Authority:
* The Authority is continuously monitoring the last 10 ports of call for all vessels arriving at Canal waters and will immediately alert MINSA's Maritime Sanitation representatives of any vessels arriving in Canal waters whose previous 10 ports were from an Ebola affected country. The Authority will await clearance from the Maritime Sanitation representatives prior to boarding these vessels that are scheduled for inspection and transit.
* In case of suspicion of an Ebola case on board a vessel, the MINSA expert physician's opinion must be received by the Authority prior to Canal personnel boarding.
* If Ebola is diagnosed, the vessel will be placed in quarantine until MINSA authorities declare it is safe for boarding.
* All vessels arriving at Canal waters, whether for transit or not, must report any suspicious or confirmed diagnosed Ebola case.
* Any confirmed Ebola case will be handled accordingly with the International Health Regulations (IHR) implemented by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to control international outbreaks and to strengthen international public health security.
For information about operations in the Panama Canal contact GAC-Wilford & McKay at gac-wilfordmckay.panama@gac.com