The Brazilian newspaper Jornal Da Orla reported today that a cruise ship doctor has died in a hospital in Santos after testing positive for coronavirus. 

According to the newspaper, Doctor Paolo Mudano, from Genoa, Italy was medically evacuated from the cruise ship Costa Fascinosa on April 5, after presenting severe respiratory symptoms. He was immediately transferred by an ambulance to a private hospital in Santos to undergo necessary tests and treatments. He was diagnosed with viral pneumonia. The next day, he had to be sent to the intensive care unit and was placed on mechanical ventilation.  

Doctor Paolo Mudano died on Wednesday evening, April 15, he was the first cruise ship frontline healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.

Our deepest condolences are with his family and friends at this extremely sad time. We all feel deeply the loss of any of our colleagues, and we want to extend our sympathies to the Doctor Paolo Mudano family.

Following this tragic event Costa Cruises released the following statement: 

“With extreme sadness, Costa Crociere learned that one of our shipboard employees, of Italian nationality, who served on board Costa Fascinosa as a medical doctor, died at a hospital in Santos, where he was hospitalized. Costa Crociere wishes to express deepest and heartfelt condolences to the dear colleague's family. Our care team is in close contact with the family to ensure the necessary support in this terrible moment. Our sincere gratitude goes to the doctors and nurses of the hospital in Santos for having done everything possible to save the life of our colleague. The entire world is going through a difficult time and we are close to all the people affected by the virus, remaining confident that with the measures taken globally, we will soon be able to overcome this virus.”

“Doctor Mudanò was our partner and a very good doctor - said Paolo Cremonesithe, President of the on-board doctors association - He worked for years aboard ferries, then he switched to cruise ships, he was an expert doctor". In my name and on behalf of all our members, I want to express my deepest condolences to the family for the passing of Paolo."