Erasmus MC new partner Port Health Authority
On Tuesday 17 January 2017, Erasmus MC officially became a member of the Port Health Authority Rotterdam (PHAR). The PHAR is a collaboration between eleven port organizations to combat infectious diseases in the port. The port of Rotterdam is one of the largest in the world and therefore an important gateway for worldwide water traffic. More than 30,000 seagoing vessels and 110,000 inland waterway vessels pass through this port each year with people and goods from all parts of the world. This increases the chance of infectious diseases. The PHAR is therefore important and necessary to combat infectious diseases.
Global infectious diseases
The PHAR was established in 2009 as a result of the new International Health Regulations in the new Public Health Act. The reason for this renewal of regulations was the rise of worldwide infectious diseases, such as SARS and avian influenza. The Public Health Act regulates, among other things, that sufficient facilities are available to quickly detect and combat infectious diseases. The focus is on international traffic in large ports and airports.
New partner: Erasmus MC
In 2014 and 2015 there was a major outbreak of ebola in West Africa. The PHAR then composed a scenario as a precaution in case the disease would also spread to Western Europe. Erasmus MC played an important role then. Possible ebola patients would be admitted to the Erasmus MC. Also for other infectious diseases there is a preference to work together with Erasmus MC. It is therefore important that Erasmus MC is part of PHAR.
A total of 11 organizations are now involved in the PHAR: the GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Port of Rotterdam NV, (State) Harbor Master, Port Physicians of Port Health Centre, Havenziekenhuis, Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij (KNRM) and Radio Medical Service, Coast Guard, Veiligheidsregio Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Seaport Police and Erasmus MC. The organizations do everything to combat infectious diseases in shipping.
Global infectious diseases
The PHAR was established in 2009 as a result of the new International Health Regulations in the new Public Health Act. The reason for this renewal of regulations was the rise of worldwide infectious diseases, such as SARS and avian influenza. The Public Health Act regulates, among other things, that sufficient facilities are available to quickly detect and combat infectious diseases. The focus is on international traffic in large ports and airports.
New partner: Erasmus MC
In 2014 and 2015 there was a major outbreak of ebola in West Africa. The PHAR then composed a scenario as a precaution in case the disease would also spread to Western Europe. Erasmus MC played an important role then. Possible ebola patients would be admitted to the Erasmus MC. Also for other infectious diseases there is a preference to work together with Erasmus MC. It is therefore important that Erasmus MC is part of PHAR.
A total of 11 organizations are now involved in the PHAR: the GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Port of Rotterdam NV, (State) Harbor Master, Port Physicians of Port Health Centre, Havenziekenhuis, Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij (KNRM) and Radio Medical Service, Coast Guard, Veiligheidsregio Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Seaport Police and Erasmus MC. The organizations do everything to combat infectious diseases in shipping.