Newsroom     Agência Brasil

São Paulo – The cruise ship, MSC Armonia, was held in the port of Santos yesterday while being inspected by sanitation officials (“Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – Anvisa”) who were looking into a possible outbreak of fluenzavirus B.

On February 15, a crew member, Fabiana do Santos, 30, was hospitalized in Santos and, on February 17, died of severe respiratory complications. On the same day that Fabiana died, another five crew members were admitted to hospital with similar symptoms, followed by two more crew members and three passengers on Saturday, February 18. According to the hospital, Fabiana was the only patient who presented problems. All the other patients were released.

Also on February 18, Anvisa made an inspection of the MSC Armonia and liberated the ship to embark on a scheduled cruise to Uruguay and Argentina.

On February 26, the MSC Armonia, back in Brazil, made a port call at São Francisco do Sul in Santa Catarina, where the ship, along with passengers who left it there, were once again inspected by Anvisa for signs of influenzavirus B, which were not found.

The ship is owned by MSC Cruzeiros that issued a statement saying that the company complies with all international maritime regulations and Brazilian norms set out by the Ministries of Labor and Health.

Last night, the MSC Armonia was again released by Anvisa inspectors and left the port of Santos on a four-day cruise to Buzios in Rio de Janeiro and Ilhabela in São Paulo.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English - content updated

Link - Anvisa inspeciona transatlântico que está sob suspeita de surto de gripe tipo B