Cruise ships witness worst year for stomach bugs in over a decade
Cruise ships witness worst year for stomach bugs in over a decade
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There were five reported Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships in December with a total of 890 cases. In just the past month, 890 cases (781 passengers and 109 cruise employees) of stomach illness occurred across five recorded outbreaks. 16 outbreaks occurred in total from January 3 to December 29.
The last time there were as many as 16 outbreaks was in 2012. Out of the 16 outbreaks this year, the causative agent for 11 was Norovirus. Norovirus, also known as the “stomach flu” or the “stomach bug,” is a highly contagious virus that includes symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC. However, Norovirus is separate from the typical flu caused by the influenza virus.
While the CDC says the recovery time for most people with Norovirus is one to three days, the virus is still contagious for a few days after symptoms fade. “Most outbreaks occur when infected people spread the virus to others through direct contact (such as caring for them, sharing food, or eating utensils with them),” the CDC states.
Every year the CDC estimates about 2,500 Norovirus outbreaks with anywhere between 19 to 21 million cases, 100,000 of which result in hospitalizations. November to April is the most at-risk time for Norovirus outbreaks. The most recent unknown outbreak started on December 21 aboard Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 and is now expected to last through January 3, 2025.
A total of 151 inspections were conducted, 23 of which required a second inspection. The average score was 95.9, but the nine dirtiest ships received scores between 86 and 89. Had they been given a score below 85, they would have been listed as “non-satisfactory.”.
