Management of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Onboard a U.S. Navy Hospital Ship Amid a Global Omicron Surge

Mil Med. 2023 Jul 22;188(7-8):e2646-e2650. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usac425.

Abstract

Introduction: We present a real-world experience of a U.S. Navy Hospital Ship deployed amid a global Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) surge and the challenges of navigating policy while maintaining a mission-focused itinerary in an operational environment.

Materials and methods: We performed a chart review of SARS-CoV-2 cases from April 18 to September 20, 2022, within a closed population of fully vaccinated adults onboard the USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) during the 5-month 2022 Pacific Partnership mission to Guam, Vietnam, Palau, Philippines, and the Solomon Islands.

Results: There were 123 total SARS-CoV-2 cases over the course of the mission, constituting 16.6% of the total crew (123/741). No more than 14 service members were actively infected at a given time (1.9%, 14/741). The average number of active cases at any given time was 0.8 (1.9 SD, 0.1% [0.8/741]), and just 14 of these were shipboard secondary cases. No significant operational requirements of the ship were impacted by infection-related manning shortages, there were no hospitalizations, and all infected members experienced full recovery.

Conclusions: Despite ongoing cases throughout the majority of the mission, a healthy immunized crew experienced no serious cases and minimal impact on operational effectiveness.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Military / organization & administration
  • Hospitals, Military / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Military Personnel* / statistics & numerical data
  • Naval Medicine / methods
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Ships* / statistics & numerical data
  • United States / epidemiology

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