Skuld Club addresses the risk of tuberculosis, providing information on what the crew can do in case they have been affected.
To better explain, Skuld’s Anne Ingeborg Wikdal notes that tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs, but it can also spread to other organs, such as the kidneys, spine and the brain.
The bacterium spreads from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected. Vaccinated persons will not get the disease even if they inhale the germs.
What to do in case crew is affected
The first step to deal with tuberculosis is to be aware of the symptoms:
- Cough with sputum and blood at times
- Chest pains
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Night sweats
In addition, it is advised that any crew with TB symptoms, particularly a productive cough lasting for more than two weeks, should be isolated and provided with an N95 rated face mask to prevent further possible spread of the infection.
Then, the crew has to be disembarked at the next appropriate port to receive a chest x-ray and treatment with antibiotics.
If active TB (contagious) is confirmed, then it is important to have all crew who have been exposed to the infection (which will likely be most in the confined nature of a vessel) tested for TB to prevent a further spread. This process should then be repeated 8-10 weeks after the initial test as subsequent infections may not produce a positive result immediately.
However, it is highlighted that patients will often be asymptomatic after 14 days of treatment with antibiotics and will be well enough to return home unassisted. Airlines are understandably cautious about accepting passengers recently diagnosed with active TB and all will usually request a certificate from the treating doctor confirming that a passenger is not contagious.