Port of Santos steps up Ebola response preparedness

Following the World Health Organization’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for Ebola virus disease, the Santos Port Authority has intensified preparations for a potential case aboard vessels arriving from abroad.

The Santos Port Authority, or APS, is the federal company responsible for the public infrastructure at the Port of Santos, Brazil’s largest port complex.

The work is being carried out in partnership with the Santos Epidemiological Surveillance Group, linked to the São Paulo State Health Department, and Brazil’s health surveillance agency, Anvisa.

The measures include training for professionals working in the port area and stronger coordination among the institutions responsible for responding to public health emergencies.

The protocol has also been presented to technical teams from other municipalities in Baixada Santista, the coastal region surrounding Santos, broadening regional alignment for possible emergency responses.

In late June, maritime pilots took part in training on the use of minimum universal personal protective equipment, aimed at situations in which a pilot may need to board a vessel with a suspected case of Ebola virus disease.

The session combined practical demonstrations with a technical update on the disease, covering epidemiology, transmission routes, clinical signs and prevention measures.

In early July, medical clinic teams operating in the port area received similar training. In addition to reviewing general aspects of the disease and demonstrating how to put on and remove personal protective equipment, participants were introduced to Annex IV of the Port of Santos Contingency Plan for Public Health Events.

The annex establishes the port’s response procedure for Ebola virus disease and sets guidelines for two scenarios: handling a suspected case on board a vessel and responding to a suspected death during a voyage.

Additional training sessions have been scheduled and will involve other segments of the port community.

Source: Port of Santos

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