Cruise Ship Virus - Danger At High Sea?
"On the last night/morning, many people were stricken with a
gastrointestinal illness that caused diarrhea and vomiting. A
great deal of vomit was on the stairs, elevator and other public
areas by Friday morning." So a passenger from Canada, on
December 30, 2005, sailing on the Zuiderdam in the Holland
America Line, reported to the website cruisejunkie.com.
Norovirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus where
the potential for someone who is sick to infect others exists
from the moment they become sick, to at least 3 days after they
get better. Disturbingly, some people remain contagious for up
to 2 weeks after recovering. This may be a factor in successive
cruises becoming infected. And it remains questionable whether
sick passengers and crew are confined to their cabins for 3 days
after they get better.
Whilst norovirus outbreaks are by no means confined to cruise
ships, the nature of a cruise increases the likelihood of an
infection spreading. This is similar to the potential for
infections spreading in other closed communities like nursing
homes. The 'cruise ship virus' can be spread through
contaminated food and drink, which is particularly concerning if
the crew members who serve or prepare food become sick.
Passengers can pick up the virus from touching infected surfaces
like handrails, walls and mirrors. When a suspected norovirus
outbreak occurs on a cruise ship, crew will spray disinfectant
on all common surfaces, and sick passengers are confined to
their staterooms.
Sick passengers and crew have acute symptoms of nausea, vomiting
and diarrhea. Some also have stomach cramps, headaches, a low
grade fever, and chills. One 21 year old man actually died two
days after disembarking from his ship. The cause of death was
cited as being complications from a norovirus infection.
This isn't common however. Norovirus infections are usually not
significant health risks, though they are highly unpleasant,
both for passengers and cruise ship companies. For passengers,
what is meant to be a relaxing holiday turns into a retching and
wretched nightmare at sea. For cruise companies with ever
increasing ship capacities, it is a public relations nightmare.