Segurança alimentar em navios de cruzeiro. Uma revisão dos surtos alimentares ocorridos internacionalmente versus inspecção sanitária em Portugal

Mestrado em Engenharia Alimentar - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaOutbreaks of foodborne illness on cruise ships are of great concern due to potentially serious consequences for the health of passengers and crew, constituting a Public Health emergency of international importance. The lack of an updated record of outbreaks, as well as the conditions of the vessels and the health of its occupants constitute limiting factors for the implementation of preventive measures. In this sense, this work was made, based on a review of existing documentation regarding nonconformities detected in health inspections conducted by the Maritime Health Services and the outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with cruise ships, occurred internationally in the period from January 2004 to December 2010. In the span period, 159 food outbreaks were identified, with 19,993 affected people, being the Norovírus the main responsible agent. The factors that contributed most to the outbreak were contamination by infected person, inadequate hygiene practices and water quality. The low number of sanitary inspections obtained (35) does not allow the establishment of relevant considerations regarding potential risk factors, but an urgent need to establish routine procedures regarding the health surveillance of such vessel