Tag: malaria

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is working on the appeal for the release of 17 Filipino crew members of the MV Galaxy Leader, with particular concern over three crew members hospitalized with malaria symptoms.

Sophia Grant, Crew Health Programme Director at UK P&I Club presents prevention methods for malaria,  a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. 

Gard Club issued an alert concerning malaria which remains one of the world’s leading killers and seafarers must not lower their guard when visiting an area where there is a risk of exposure to this mosquito-borne disease. The progress in fighting malaria has levelled off. 

In 2017, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria in 90 countries” and deaths caused by malaria reached 435,000, according to data provided by WHO. Meanwhile, UK P&I Club said it has recently been informed of two deaths and two cases of serious illness due to malaria. 

A 40-year-old Filipino crewmember died probably from malaria onboard a bulker. The seaman was sent to a hospital in a serious condition, but despite resuscitation, he lost his life. According to information, another crewmember is at the hospital as well with similar symptoms. The bulker came to Poland from Liberia.

On Wednesday afternoon, NSRI East London were alerted by the Transnet National Ports Authority, following reports of two sailors requiring urgent patient evacuation off the ship, sailing from Abijan to Durban. The two men were reported to be unconscious and suspected to be suffering from Malaria.

Under its "Seafarers’ Health Information Programme", International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network issued a report on malaria prevention, as the disease causes at least 1 million deaths every year, the majority of which occur in resource-poor countries, such as Africa, south and central America, Asia and the middle east.

The West of England P&I Club has published a new Loss Prevention Bulletin “Malaria – Practical Guidance for Seafarers”, containing advice on the measures that should be taken to minimise the risk of catching theMalaria disease.

IMCA has issued its latest Safety Flash with a focus on mosquito-borne diseases due to a recent fatality from malaria. The incident occurred offshore Ghana. A non-immune foreign national contractor presented himself to the offshore medic with flu-like symptoms. He tested negative for malaria twice via rapid diagnostic testing. He was sent ashore for further evaluation and subsequently died as a result of complications arising from malaria.

The Hong Kong Marine Department has issued an information note regarding two fatal illnesses of malaria happened on two Hong Kong registered cargo ships last year in areas of Central Africa to draw the attention of operators to the lessons learnt from these incidents.