There has been a major outbreak of norovirus on the Caribbean Princess cruise ship. There were a total of 3,116 passengers on board, out of which 102 passengers and 13 crew members have been infected with the disease. A total of 115 people have been infected. The voyage was scheduled to begin from Fort Lauderdale from April 28 to May 11 and end in Port Canaveral. During the voyage, the ship stopped at beautiful places like Aruba, Bonaire, Puerto Rico and Bahamas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main symptoms of the illness were vomiting and diarrhea. Princess Cruz described it as a stomach disease. Norovirus is a contagious virus that infects the stomach and intestines. This causes rapid vomiting and diarrhea. This virus spreads rapidly in closed spaces and close contact. Cruise ships are particularly dangerous because thousands of passengers and crew are often confined together for long periods of time, and often eat the same food. Use common facilities. This virus spreads easily to other people through the hands, food, water or surfaces of an infected person. Norovirus is the most common cause of stomach illnesses on cruise ships.
What happened on this trip?
The disease spread slowly throughout the trip. Not all passengers became ill at the same time; Cases continued to increase throughout the trip. When the number of sick people exceeded 3 percent of total passengers, the CDC issued a public notice. Health officials are now doing a complete inspection of the ship. Intensive testing is underway as part of the ship’s sanitation program. The company has taken immediate action and intensified cleaning and disinfection throughout the ship. The sick passenger and crew member have been isolated. Stool samples are being collected and tested. All necessary steps are being taken in collaboration with CDC.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
The main symptoms of norovirus infection are sudden vomiting and watery diarrhea. Along with this, stomach pain, nausea, mild fever, headache and weakness in the body may also occur. In most cases, these symptoms last for 1 to 3 days. Most people recover without any serious problems. However, young children, the elderly, and people with existing health problems are at greater risk of dehydration. Therefore, they should take special precautions. Mild illness has been reported among the people affected by this outbreak.
Why does norovirus spread on cruise ships?
Cruise ships are closed and crowded places, where one infected person can easily infect the entire crew. Often, a passenger boards the ship without showing any symptoms. The virus then spreads through shared objects such as buffet food, swimming pools, elevators, and handrails. Millions of people are infected with norovirus each year in the United States, but cases on cruise ships make up a very small portion of the total. However, these are much discussed because they infect a large number of people at once. Princess Cruises said that they cleaned the entire ship thoroughly and continued further sanitization throughout the voyage. Emphasis is placed on washing hands, using hand sanitizer, and maintaining distance from sick people. The company is fully cooperating with CDC.
How dangerous is norovirus?
Norovirus is usually not life-threatening. Most people recover comfortably in a few days. Serious complications are rare, and they mainly occur in people who have existing health problems. Even in this outbreak, most cases have been described as mild. It is common for travelers to feel excessive stress and anxiety during travel.
