Table Of Content
- Keep hands clean as stomach bug cases rise
- How to avoid Norovirus on cruise ships?
- How to treat stomach viruses
- Shots - Health News
- How does norovirus spread?
- Norovirus Outbreaks on Cruise Ships: How to Avoid Getting Sick on Vacation
- What is norovirus and how do you treat it? What to know about the ‘cruise ship virus’
In January 2016, the CDC issued travel guidance on affected countries and suggested using enhanced precautions and even postponing travel. Similar travel warnings were issued by other health agencies and governments. During COVID, the options for cruises were limited, but now that restrictions have been lifted, more people are deciding to take that cruise they had been putting off.
Keep hands clean as stomach bug cases rise
During the onboard illness outbreak, VSP requires the cruise company to activate the "Outbreak Prevention and Response Plan" (vessel's response to illness cases). VSP doesn't charge fees for consultations related to shipping facilities renovations or new ships. 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.
How to avoid Norovirus on cruise ships?
But worries about onboard policies — and frustration over quarantines — are rising. Following the identification of the omicron variant, there has been an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among cruise passengers and crew reported to the agency, the CDC said. Norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis and foodborne illness. Though people often call it the “stomach flu,” it has nothing to do with flu, Brian Labus, PhD, MPH, REHS, an expert in infectious diseases, told Health. Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread directly through sick people and contaminated surfaces, food, or drinks. Infected passengers who don't wash their hands after coughing, sneezing or using the restroom are the reason those surfaces become contaminated in the first place.
How to treat stomach viruses
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. The worst year for norovirus was 2006, when 32 ships reported infections, according to the CDC. The simple answer is that cruise ships are required to report cases of acute gastroenteritis to the CDC, even when the numbers are low.
Stomach Virus Spreads Through Cruise Ships at Fastest Pace in Years - The Wall Street Journal
Stomach Virus Spreads Through Cruise Ships at Fastest Pace in Years.
Posted: Tue, 27 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Many cruise ship travelers are older adults or have underlying medical conditions that put them at increased risk of complications from these respiratory virus infections. Early detection, prevention, and control of such acute viral respiratory infections are important, not only to protect the health of passengers and crew members on cruise ships, but also to avoid spread of these viruses into communities. There are more than 21 million US cases reported annually, of which 1 mill related to kids. Outbreaks happen mostly during winter months and mainly in more crowded places with close quarters. Among those are schools, hospitals, nursing homes, dormitories, prisons, big resorts, bigger passenger ships (including cruise ferries). Norovirus is often branded as "cruise ship virus" simply because on ships health officials are required to report every gastrointestinal illness incident.
If a passenger or crew member with viral ARI is taken to a healthcare facility off the ship, the facility should be informed before arrival. Commercial maritime travel is characterized by the movement of large numbers of people in enclosed and semi-enclosed settings. Like other close-contact environments, these settings can facilitate the transmission of respiratory viruses from person to person through droplets and small particles or potentially through contact with contaminated surfaces. The boarding/embarkation of new passengers is often delayed to permit more extensive disinfection of public areas and the cabins.
How does norovirus spread?
In general, molecular tests are recommended over antigen tests because of their greater sensitivity; multiplex assays are available that can detect SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, and RSV. Cruise ship operators should consider performing viral testing (e.g., COVID-19, influenza, RSV) for passengers with ARI before they embark. The CDC says crew on the ship, which can carry more than 2,100 passengers, increased cleaning and disinfection procedures and collected stool specimens to send to a lab to confirm the cause. On most vessels, the medical facilities are located midship on a lower deck (for easier access and better stability) and usually among other crew facilities. Every passenger stateroom has the Infirmary's number - posted or by the cabin's phone.
These reports are requested by completing the Cruise Ship Cumulative Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) Reporting Form. Access to the online reporting form has been provided to cruise lines by CDC. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes acute gastroenteritis, which is inflammation in the stomach or intestines, according to the CDC.
What is norovirus and how do you treat it? What to know about the ‘cruise ship virus’
Passengers sensitive to nausea or motion sickness should consult their doctors for medical recommendations prior to departure. At the cruise ship's Infirmary, and also at Reception Desk is provided (free of charge) Meclizine. Also, motion in midship-located areas (including staterooms) is highly reduced in comparison to forward and aft areas. Norovirus on ships is spread through contaminated water, foods and surfaces (public restrooms, railings, doorknobs, handles, board games-cards-puzzles-toys, etc).
Passengers who experience norovirus symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea should notify staff and follow recommended precautions, per the CDC. According to the CDC, the most common settings for norovirus outbreaks are health care facilities, restaurants or catered events, schools, day cares and, of course, cruise ships. Outbreaks of the stomach bug have surged on cruise ships this year, reaching the highest levels seen in 10 years. Since January 2023, there have been 13 confirmed norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction — that's more outbreaks in six months than there have been during any full year since 2012, according to data from the U.S. During that time frame, approximately 127 million passengers sailed on the 252 cruise ships under VSP jurisdiction.
Norovirus infects between 19 million and 21 million Americans annually, the CDC reports. The most recent occurred in June on a Viking Cruises ship from Iceland that docked in New York, where 110 passengers and eight crew members fell ill. An MSC Cruises representative told Insider at the time that the cruise line had launched an internal investigation based on the inspector's concerns and taken immediate corrective actions. ▪ While there is no specific treatment to treat the illness, the CDC recommends drinking lots of water or other drinks, like sports drinks, that don’t have caffeine or alcohol to help avoid dehydration.
All passengers and crew are also recommended to be up to date with all routine vaccines. Land-based operations ("Field Service") include mobile clinics providing screening for potential surgery patients, healthcare, dental care, also mental health programs, infrastructure projects. The navies of USA, UK, Australia, China, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, and Japan have some classes of military ships fitted with onboard hospitals. As of 2018, hospital ships have Brazil (6), China (5), Russia (6), USA (2), Spain (2), and India-Indonesia-Peru-Vietnam (x1).
Usually, a pre-embarkation health advisory is distributed to all boarding passengers. Additional med staff is sent to the ship in port to assist the disembarkation of infected passengers. Another possibility is the cruise ship to cancel all the itinerary's foreign ports of call and to return to its US home-port before the end of the voyage.
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