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Ruby Princess passengers told a crew member has TB

Health Protection NSW sent a letter on Saturday to all passengers on Ruby Princess’ March 8-19 voyage from New Zealand to Sydney advising them a crew member has been diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

May 31, 2020

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Risk to passengers is low

Christine Selvey, assistant director of communicable diseases, said the crew member is currently a patient at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and that passengers on the ship have a very low risk of infection.

She said the patient has been diagnosed many weeks after they were on board Ruby Princess and those who may be at risk are roommates and close friends.

‘Tuberculosis is spread from a person with active disease after close and prolonged contact with that person, rather than casual exposure,’ she said.

Dr. Selvey said the department is following up with those people at increased risk so that they can be checked for infection and receive preventive treatment if necessary.

Ship is subject of two COVID-19 investigations

More than 700 cases of coronavirus and at least 22 deaths have now been linked to Ruby Princess which is the subject of both a criminal investigation and a Special Commission of Inquiry.

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About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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