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Travel Health and Quarantine

Fact Sheet: Reporting an illness or death

Important quarantine information for crew of international ships and aircraft.

• Reporting ill travellers or deaths
• Why report ill travellers or death on board?
• What will happen if we report ill travellers or deaths on board?
• What to look for?
• What you should do if a traveller is ill or dies on board?
• Your responsibility
• For more information

Reporting ill travellers or deaths

If you or any of your passengers show symptoms of infectious disease or there has been a death on board, the Quarantine Act 1908 requires that the Captain reports this to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Biosecurity officers before arrival in Australia. You are not required to ask passengers if they are suffering from an infectious disease, but if you notice someone is ill you must check for symptoms of disease – (see What to look for?)
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Why report ill travellers or death on board?

Ill travellers may have an infectious disease threatening their wellbeing and those around them. Informing DAFF Biosecurity of ill or deceased travellers on board reduces the spread of disease as DAFF Biosecurity officers can assess and manage the situation before anyone leaves the aircraft or ship.
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What will happen if we report ill travellers or deaths on board?

Once an illness has been reported, a DAFF Biosecurity officer may board your aircraft to assess ill or deceased travellers. For ships, DAFF Biosecurity officers may request some additional information on the ill traveller’s condition and travel history.

This process manages the disease risk from ill or deceased travellers and is done in a timely manner. Delays may occur if ill travellers or deaths are not reported to DAFF Biosecurity officers.
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What to look for?

You should inform DAFF Biosecurity officers of travellers who have:

• A high temperature (over 38°C) where a traveller may report feeling feverish or cold, may sweat profusely or may appear flushed;
• Acute unexplained skin rashes or lesions, and rashes or lesions caused by illness or exposure to hazardous agents, for example noticeable rash, skin spots or discoloration, itching or discomfort beneath clothing (but not if the traveller has heat rashes, dermatitis, eczema or similar common skin conditions);
• Persistent or severe vomiting but not vomiting caused by motion sickness or alcohol;
• Persistent, watery or profuse diarrhoea;
• Bleeding from ears, eyes, nose, mouth, anus or skin, (but not if the traveller is predisposed to nosebleeds or haemorrhoids, or has cuts or abrasions);
• Glandular swelling in the armpits or neck;
• Prolonged loss of consciousness where a traveller cannot be roused, (but not if the traveller has lost consciousness caused by consumption of alcohol, drugs or medications, fainting or sleeping);
• Persistent coughing and breathing difficulty with no apparent cause and no history of similar symptoms, (but not if the traveller has persistent coughing and difficulty breathing caused by asthma, heart disease, obesity, chronic bronchitis or emphysema);
• Inability to disembark without assistance, except in the case of a person with restricted mobility or an otherwise healthy young child.

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What you should do if a traveller is ill or dies on board?

If a traveller is sick, displays any of the listed symptoms or dies on board you should:

• For ships-Report in writing to DAFF Biosecurity between 12 and 96 hours before arrival
• For aircraft-Notify DAFF Biosecurity at top of descent or at least 30 minutes before arrival

If there is any doubt whether a person has any of these symptoms or diseases, contact DAFF Biosecurity. If a person is very ill, notifying DAFF Biosecurity will not interfere with having a ship or an aircraft met by medical or ambulance services. The Captain is responsible for requesting medical or ambulance services.
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Your responsibility

The Australian Government takes the reporting of ill or deceased travellers very seriously. The Captain is legally responsible for ensuring DAFF is notified. Failure to report ill travellers or death on board a ship or aircraft is an offence under the Quarantine Act 1908 and can lead to the application of additional reporting requirements including revoking the automatic granting of pratique for aircraft, or imprisonment of up to two years.

For more information

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601

For general information during business hours
Airports +61 2 6272 4143
Seaports +61 2 6272 5557

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
MDP 14, GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: +61 2 6289 7456
email: Human Quarantine
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