Norovirus Outbreak on Royal Caribbean Cruise
Over 70 individuals, including both passengers and crew members, have fallen ill on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that departed from San Diego on September 19 due to a norovirus outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that at least 71 passengers and one crew member on the ship are experiencing symptoms of illness. The outbreak was reported to the Ship Sanitation Program on Sunday.
In response to this situation, Royal Caribbean International, along with the ship’s crew, outlined various actions taken, which include cleaning and disinfecting protocols as part of their outbreak prevention plan. The agency also noted that specimens from affected individuals were being collected for further testing. It appears they are closely monitoring sanitation measures and illness reporting.
The CDC reported that the primary symptoms observed included diarrhea and vomiting. This translated to about 4% of the 1,874 passengers on board being affected.
Dr. Irene Marty, an infectious diseases expert at Florida International University, weighed in on the situation. She characterized norovirus as fairly common, explaining, “It makes you nauseous, it will give you vomit, give you diarrhea for a few days, and while it’s not too bad in itself, it can be very serious when you get dehydrated from losing all those liquids.” She highlighted the rapid spread of norovirus in cruise ship environments due to close quarters.
“If hygiene is not incredibly strict, it’s very easy for many people to get sick if one person brings this very contagious virus on board,” she added. “The majority of cruise ships are safe, but when you’re on a cruise ship, you should absolutely follow all sanitation rules and regulations.”
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean reiterated the company’s commitment to health and safety, stating, “The health and safety of our guests, crews and the communities we visit are our number one priority, and we implement strict cleaning procedures to maintain an environment that supports the highest level of health and safety on board the ship.”
This 13-night cruise is set to conclude on Thursday in Miami, according to reports.
