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The C.D.C. said that, as of Thursday, 129 passengers and 25 crew members had reported being ill on the ship. The agency said 1,824 passengers and 967 crew members were aboard at the time of the outbreak. It may bring you peace of mind to know that many cruise lines updated their HVAC and ventilation systems in the first few years of the COVID pandemic.
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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. On ships where outbreaks occur, the crew conducts a deep cleaning of the ship after passengers have disembarked and before the next sailing begins.
Why are there so many cruise norovirus reports on the news?
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. It's best to check with each cruise line before traveling to understand their policies, especially if you have a preexisting condition that could flare up while on the cruise. Be sure to ask what medical care is available specifically on the ship you'll be sailing on, as older and smaller vessels may have different facilities and capabilities than the newer and larger ships. This is one of the reasons to invest in travel insurance when you travel.
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Nearly 30 Silverseas cruise passengers fall ill with diarrhea at sea - New York Post
Nearly 30 Silverseas cruise passengers fall ill with diarrhea at sea.
Posted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 23:44:00 GMT [source]
Some declined, while others referred us to their websites, where you can find basic information under the FAQs sections on what their ships typically offer regarding medical assistance. Doctors on cruise ships are independent contractors and set their own rates. Tests, medications and the use of equipment, like X-rays, will be charged separately. Disease outbreaks occur in many different places where groups can be exposed to potential pathogens, including churches, schools, theme parks, movie theaters, shopping centers, sporting events, workplaces, and more. But like an aircraft infection, the infected individuals disperse quickly and tracking contagion is much more challenging.
How does norovirus spread?
The line works with local emergency services to arrange for the patient to be picked up and transferred to a designated shoreside medical facility when necessary. The care team will also continue to assist and support the disembarked guest and their traveling companions. If you have another medical condition, you may not find the appropriate medicines to treat it on board. On its website, Carnival advises that its ships may not have certain medications and vitamins available.
The cruise line “immediately activated their enhanced health and safety protocols to ensure the well being of all guests and crew on board and these measures have been effective,” the company said. Whenever you travel, you should bring a first-aid kit packed with these essentials so you have key products on hand whenever you need them. For a cruise, add seasickness medication (whether in tablet form like Bonine and Dramamine, or motion sickness patches). Many people find that anti-nausea acupressure wristbands work for them. The ship’s medical center will likely give you the same advice as you would get at home—drink lots of (nonalcoholic) fluids and rest. If the doctor suspects your symptoms are caused by bacteria rather than a virus, they may prescribe an antibiotic.
Cruise ships are required by the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) to report all onboard cases of gastrointestinal illness 24 hours prior to arrival in any U.S. port. If 3% or more of the onboard population becomes sick within two weeks of a planned call on the U.S., VSP officials will conduct an investigation. "People shouldn't be self-medicating," advises Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York . "See a physician in advance if you're going into a situation where you may have an increased risk of illness."
Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships surge to decade-high levels: How to avoid the stomach bug
However, it’s wise to make a cruise packing list and travel with the medications or remedies that you know work for you, like Dramamine, Gravol or a motion sickness patch. Many people rely on sea sickness bracelets that activate a pressure point on the wrist. The predominant symptoms of the gastrointestinal illness include diarrhea and vomiting. If possible, avoid using public restrooms on a cruise ship, and instead return to your cabin to use the restroom. If you must use public restrooms, use a tissue on the door handle, and of course, always wash your hands thoroughly, with warm water and soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. If, several days later, many of those passengers have become ill, it is nearly impossible to tell where each person may have contracted the illness.
The innovative ship cleaning process is based on photocatalytic antibacterial spray that when activated by light kills viruses, bacteria, airborne microbes, mould. The disinfecting product and technology were developed by the Danish company ACT Global AS (Copenhagen). The spray is chemical-free, odourless, transparent and can be applied to all surfaces. Obviously, the first thing is to go to the ship's infirmary (medical center) and contact the doctor. You should drink plenty of water as dehydration is a side-effect of the illness. A few years ago an experimental Norovirus vaccine (applied as nasal spray) was developed by the "Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology" (Arizona State University).
The last thing you want to think about before packing your bags and sailing away on your dream cruise vacation is what would happen if you got sick while on board the ship. The ship, the Queen Victoria, operated by Cunard Line, departed Southampton, England, on Jan. 11 on a 107-night cruise that included recent stops in Florida and San Francisco, according to the company’s website. The Queen Victoria was on its way to Honolulu from San Francisco on a 107-night world cruise when more than 150 people on board reported symptoms, officials said. No one is suggesting not using the handrail on a staircase, but get in the habit of pushing the elevator button with your elbow and not putting your hands on the bar when you order a drink. And just FYI, if you’re sharing these things that germ experts wouldn’t share, you’re putting yourself at an increased risk of getting sick. Cruise lines’ crew work hard to keep everything clean to minimize the spread of communicable diseases, but it’s up to you to be cautious as well.
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. An "illness outbreak" is considered when 3% or more of all passengers report symptoms to the ship's med staff.
Some of the world's most famous passenger ships are listed in the virus outbreak statistics, yet one hears so little of it in mass media news. And there is no surprise in that since the "cruise illness" news are nothing but bad publicity for the companies - which is bad for a prosperous multi-billion dollar sea travel vacation business. All major cruise line companies will do their best to keep quiet about virus outbreaks on their ships.
You’ll be asked to fill out a form that addresses health questions and illness symptoms like fever, vomiting and diarrhea. You may also have your temperature taken by walking through a thermal-imaging scanner. Checks for certification of COVID-19 vaccination or negative tests have, at least for now, ended (here are other recent changes that might affect your cruise).
According to the CDC, flu season in the southern hemisphere, which includes Australia and parts of South America and Africa, typically runs April through September. Attacking a hospital ship is considered a war crime, but enemy forces have the right to board them for inspections. Search for medical assistance - consult the ship's physician if no actions provide relief.
Most hospital ships are navy vessels (operated by military forces) which are specifically built for use in war zones. Hospital ships are designated as floating medical facilities (hospitals). Major (in some cases epidemic) illness outbreaks are among the "biggies" that can bring down the brand's reputation on the market.
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