Facts About Noroviruses on Cruise Ships VSP

Table Of Content

• Cruise Passenger Tampers With Cabin Water Bottle By Refilling
• How do you get this stomach bug?
• Why are acute gastrointestinal illnesses including noroviruses associated with cruise ships?
• How to treat stomach viruses
• Cruises
• Norovirus Cases Are Rising on Cruises. Here’s How You Can Stay Safe
• Norovirus Clusters Known to Cause Stomach Flu Are Resistant to Environmental Stresses and UV Disinfection

Infected individuals must be isolated, common areas may need to be closed for cleaning, and in severe cases, the ship may even have to return to port. Some people find getting tested for norovirus embarrassing, while others only have stomach virus symptoms for a few days and do not seek medical care during that time. In April 2023, a multistate norovirus outbreak was linked to raw oysters from Texas, according to the CDC.

Cruise Passenger Tampers With Cabin Water Bottle By Refilling

Norovirus is highly infectious, as I’ve described for Forbes previously. Plus, hand sanitizer and cleaning materials that don’t contain something more powerful like bleach may not get rid of the virus from a surface. In the first six months ending in June, cruise lines have reported 13 separate outbreaks to the CDC. It’s the most number of reported norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships since 2012.

How do you get this stomach bug?

There were already three outbreaks by February 3 of this year, seven that crossed the month of March, and two in May. June had one as well, affected a Viking Cruises ship that traveled from June 6 to June 20. This outbreak left 110 of 838 (13.1%) passengers and nine of 455 (1.98%) crew members sick in a bad way.

Why are acute gastrointestinal illnesses including noroviruses associated with cruise ships?

The findings led the World Health Organization to issue a recall for the frozen raspberries in November 2019. Throughout the summer, the cruise line investigated the source of the outbreak, extensively testing possible foods, but no culprit was identified, the report said. It is possible that embarkation for the next sailing may be slightly delayed in order to facilitate further deep cleaning and sanitation procedures, and guests would be contacted directly if that were to be implemented. The ship will still depart on the same day, however, and the next itinerary should not be impacted by any slight delay. Increased cleaning and disinfection protocols have also been implemented onboard, particularly for high-contact surfaces and public areas.

How to treat stomach viruses

Norovirus Cruise Ship Outbreaks Already Reach 10-Year High In 2023 - Forbes

Norovirus Cruise Ship Outbreaks Already Reach 10-Year High In 2023.

Posted: Fri, 14 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Norovirus is typically spread by ingesting small particles of fecal matter, eating contaminated food, touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then touching the mouth or eyes, or having direct contact with an infected person. An infected person is the most contagious when symptoms are present and within the first few days of feeling better. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, symptoms of norovirus infection include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, muscle aches, low-grade fever and headache. These symptoms usually appear between one to two days after contracting the virus but can appear as early as 12 hours after exposure. Cases typically last between 24 and 48 hours, though the illness may be more severe in young children and older adults, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

They ask passengers who feel ill during their cruises to report symptoms to the medical center and keep themselves isolated in their cabins. At this time, the type of disease is not yet confirmed, though the primary symptom is diarrhea. This could likely be norovirus or may be a different gastrointestinal disease, which are usually easily spread through contaminated surfaces. Silversea notified guests and crew of the outbreak via announcements and encouraged them to report cases and practice “good hand hygiene,” the CDC said. The line also isolated those who were sick and implemented heightened cleaning and disinfection measures. According to the CDC, the most common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.

Norovirus Outbreaks Surge on Cruises: Here's How to Avoid the Bug - TODAY

Norovirus Outbreaks Surge on Cruises: Here's How to Avoid the Bug.

Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

While there have been 13 outbreaks of norovirus on cruise ships this year, Labus explained that not every cruise passenger is going to be exposed to the virus. Still, taking certain steps to prevent the likelihood of getting sick is never a bad idea. That’s how many people have been infected with the norovirus while aboard cruise ships this year, according to CDC data. The outbreaks happened on Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and P&O Cruises.

Norovirus Cases Are Rising on Cruises. Here’s How You Can Stay Safe

The hotel staff is required to implement special cleaning and disinfection procedures for sanitizing the whole ship. To do that, they use stronger solvents, like Microbac, chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide. Sick passengers and crew are quarantined in their rooms, typically for at least 2 days. When Norovirus outbreaks can't be contained, cruise lines might also pull the ship out of service for a few days for sanitizing.

It's also frequently spread through contaminated food, sometimes earning it the nickname "food poisoning," even though there are many pathogens that can cause foodborne illnesses. You might also hear it generically called a stomach bug or the stomach flu despite the fact that noroviruses are not the same as flu viruses. Though Norovirus can be passed via contaminated food and water, when it comes to cruise ships it is typically spread through physical contact with ill people or surfaces/objects they may have touched. This includes shaking hands, caring for a sick friend or family member, sharing food or eating from the same utensils, and not washing hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers (the highly transmittable fecal-oral spread).

It is important to note that antibiotic drugs will not help treat norovirus infections because they fight bacteria, not viruses. There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. Here's everything you need to know about Norovirus -- and how to avoid getting sick on your next cruise vacation. According to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 13 outbreaks across six different cruise lines. This alarming number marks the highest incidence of such outbreaks since 2012 when there were 16 across eight lines over the entire year. In February 2023, for instance, a school of K-8 students in Livonia, Michigan shut down as over 115 students and staff members contracted this virus, according to reports.

This includes sharing food/utensils and poor hygiene (not washing hands after bathroom use). The virus also spreads fecally, so you can catch it into the onboard laundry, or while changing diapers, etc. However, many passengers likely can blame a sick crewmember for the virus. According to a survey based on 170 inspection records on ships that docked in Florida ports in 2012, on 59 cruises violations of the required illness reporting laws were reported. A total of 130 crew had gotten sick on those voyages and didn't report their illness in the required time period. There are more than 21 million US cases reported annually, of which 1 mill related to kids.

While each virus has a different ability to transmit, norovirus is a highly transmissible infection. According to the CDC, each person who is infected with norovirus sheds billions of viral particles. Many of the symptoms last for just two or three days and while it may come on and leave quite quickly in comparison to other viruses, during the time the symptoms are present, it can be extremely uncomfortable. Norovirus is a viral infection that is one of the most common types of gastroenteritis — a condition that causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal upset. There’s no specific treatment or antiviral for norovirus, according to Ostrosky, but most cases can be managed at home with supportive care like hydration and rest. Sick people should also isolate until their symptoms resolve, the experts emphasize.

Instead of serving yourself a gloved crew member will do it for you,” said Chiron. So if you're planning to set sail this summer, here's everything you need to know about the norovirus. Be sure to read your contract -- on the back of your cruise documents or ticket -- very carefully. And recent data from the CDC has noted that over 15% of norovirus tests are coming back positive. The ship project started in March 1999 with the vessel's acquisition through a donation from Balcraig Foundation (UK), which purchased the boat for US$6,5 million. Attacking a hospital ship is considered a war crime, but enemy forces have the right to board them for inspections.

Because people of all ages can get sick with norovirus, it can spread easily and quickly. You can get norovirus illness many times in your life because there are many different types of noroviruses and one type may not protect you against the others. For the most part, Norovirus outbreaks are the results of passengers setting sail sick ... The allure of the open sea, captivating itineraries, and the luxurious promise of a carefree escape have long made cruising a popular choice for vacationers. However, this industry’s lustrous appeal has recently been overshadowed by a surge in outbreaks of a particularly stubborn and contagious pathogen — Norovirus.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. When on board, if you see someone with norovirus symptoms, you’re urged to leave the area and alert a crew member. Chiron says cruise lines try to keep ships clean and limit some interactions.