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Quarantining the ill passengers and crew to their cabins is mandatory (at least for 48 hours) to slow the outbreak's spread. Failing to comply with the crew's orders results in fines or even discharge from the ship. Should you be worried about catching norovirus or another gastrointestinal illness when you cruise? The CDC says cruises account for some of the lowest case numbers in the U.S. annually. Cruise ships in particular have many of the conditions that make people susceptible to norovirus—close quarters, enclosed spaces, communal dining, and high turnover of passengers. People also are more likely to get sick now since pandemic restrictions have been lifted.
Facts About Noroviruses on Cruise Ships
For one, cruising has soared this year, with the number of passengers expected to surpass the total that sailed in 2019, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. Surfaces or objects that are contaminated with norovirus can be cleaned with a high-level disinfectant like bleach, per Ostrosky. Land-based operations ("Field Service") include mobile clinics providing screening for potential surgery patients, healthcare, dental care, also mental health programs, infrastructure projects.
Is norovirus common on cruise ships?
This alarming number marks the highest incidence of such outbreaks since 2012 when there were 16 across eight lines over the entire year. 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. Around 15 passengers aboard the Norwegian Dawn remain in isolation because of an undisclosed "health risk" and are undergoing testing, according to the Mauritius Ports Authority. Mathis says it might even make sense for passengers to avoid the buffet and dine only at their ship’s sit-down restaurants. Data on this page are from ship surveillance reports and from CDC-led investigations.
What do cruise ships do to prevent norovirus outbreaks on board?
So if you are about to go cruising, how do you avoid getting a norovirus infection, beside, of course, not going on the cruise? Use soap and water since hand sanitizer may not kill or inactivate the virus. Just because many have eased up on Covid-19 precautions doesn’t mean that you should stop washing your hands. If you have stopped washing your hands, please don’t go to any parties, ever. The “vomiting” should be a tip off as to what may happen when you get infected with norovirus.
VSP is monitoring of the situation, including reviewing the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures. As of 2018, hospital ships have Brazil (6), China (5), Russia (6), USA (2), Spain (2), and India-Indonesia-Peru-Vietnam (x1). Hospital ships are designated as floating medical facilities (hospitals).
Outbreaks 2016 reports
The total number of infected was 2570 (of those 2458 passengers and 112 crew). In 2016, the number of reported illness outbreaks on cruise ships was 23. The total number of infected was 2504 (of those 2378 passengers and 126 crew). In 2017, the number of reported illness outbreaks on cruise ships was 21.
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Sick people should also isolate until their symptoms resolve, the experts emphasize. Less commonly, norovirus may cause a headache, muscle aches, or a low-grade fever — symptoms usually develop within one to two days after exposure to the virus, per the CDC. However, as travel surges this summer, travel-related illnesses are expected to surge, as well.
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This outbreak left 110 of 838 (13.1%) passengers and nine of 455 (1.98%) crew members sick in a bad way. Norovirus outbreaks have hit ships from a range of different cruise ship companies including Viking Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and P&O Cruises. Yeah, even though norovirus is known as the “Winter vomiting bug,” it’s activity is not necessarily confined to the colder months. There have already been an unlucky 13 recorded norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction so far in 2023.
In 2014, the number of reported illness outbreaks on cruise ships was 17. The total number of infected was 3559 (of those 3354 passengers and 205 crew). In 2015, the number of reported illness outbreaks on cruise ships was 23.
The most recent outbreak hit passengers and crew members on board a Viking Cruises trip from Iceland that docked in New York on June 20. More than 13% of passengers on the Viking Neptune — 110 of 838 in total — reported being ill while onboard, according to the CDC. Health officials at the CDC determined that norovirus caused the outbreak after Viking Cruises collected and sent specimens to the agency's laboratory for testing. The CDC regularly inspects cruise ships and monitors the number of outbreaks. This year, norovirus also has been reported on cruises operated by Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America and P&O Cruises.
That said, the chances of catching the bug on a cruise ship aren’t particularly high. According to the Cruise Lines Industry Association, the risk each year of getting laboratory-confirmed norovirus during a ship outbreak is about 1 in 5,500. Over half of all cases originate in long-term health care facilities, according to the CDC, while less than 1 percent of all norovirus cases come from cruise ships. Cruise ships are required to report gastrointestinal illness cases to the CDC before arriving from a foreign port, or when 2% of the crew and passengers have the illness.
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