Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships on the decline
Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships on the decline
Worried about catching a stomach bug on your next cruise? Here's the good news: Outbreaks of norovirus and other gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships are on the decline.
The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta recorded just 15 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships in 2008, down from 21 in 2007 and 34 in 2006.
The decline, moreover, came even as the number of people cruising continued to rise. The Cruise Lines International Association says the industry carried 13.2 million passengers in 2008, up from 12.6 million in 2007 and 12.0 million in 2006.
Cruise ships arriving in U.S. ports must report all cases of gastrointestinal illness treated by on-board medical staff to the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program division, and a separate notification is required when the number of cases of illness on a cruise exceeds 2% of passengers and crew. When the number of cases of illness on a cruise exceeds 3% of passengers and crew the CDC issues a public report.
An analysis of the public reports by USA TODAY's Cruise Log shows that, as in past years, almost all of the outbreaks in 2008 -- 13 out of 15 -- were due to norovirus. There was one outbreak of E. coli, on the Pacific Princess in January of 2008. There also was one outbreak that was the result of both norovirus and E. coli (on the Norwegian Dream in April).
Of the 15 outbreaks in 2008:
6 were on ships operated by Holland America -- a line that has had a disproportinate share of the industry's gastrointestinal illness outbreaks for several years.
Norwegian Cruise Line (4)
Princess Cruises (2).
Carnival, Regent Seven Seas and American Canadian Caribbean Line -- each had a single outbreak.
Holland America also led the industry in gastrointestinal illness events in 2007 with five outbreaks (tying with NCL) and in 2006 with seven outbreaks, according to the CDC data.
Notably, in 2008, there were a number of major lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Disney and Cunard that did not have a single recorded outbreak in 2008.
So far in 2009 the CDC has recorded two gastro-intestinal outbreaks on ships, on the Celebrity Mercury (Jan. 3-17) and the Holland America Maasdam (Jan. 2-9).
Sometimes called the "24-hour flu," norovirus is the most common cause of stomach illness in the United States, accounting for around half of all cases, according to the CDC. It breaks out regularly in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, offices and other places people congregate.
That sure is good news. More folks are taking extra precautions, while some continue to use the restroom and not wash their hands before leaving. I observed 2 such instances last week on Navigator Of The Seas.
Char, I don't believe those numbers. On our single cruise there were 3 reported instances of Noro (myself included) and that was for just one cruise. I can't believe 50% of all HAL Noro outbreaks were just on our one cruise.
Char, I don't believe those numbers. On our single cruise there were 3 reported instances of Noro (myself included) and that was for just one cruise. I can't believe 50% of all HAL Noro outbreaks were just on our one cruise.
Neal, I believe the key word here is "outbreaks" as opposed to individual cases of noro. There were 6 outbreaks of noro on HAL ships in 2008, but they don't say how many were infected in each outbreak.
Quote:
Of the 15 outbreaks in 2008:
6 were on ships operated by Holland America -- a line that has had a disproportinate share of the industry's gastrointestinal illness outbreaks for several years.
Neal, I believe the key word here is "outbreaks" as opposed to individual cases of noro. There were 6 outbreaks of noro on HAL ships in 2008, but they don't say how many were infected in each outbreak.
I see what you mean. In that case, we have to better define what an outbreak is and how many instances of illness constitute and outbreak. Was our three incidents an outbreak, or did it get lost in the definition?
I think the decline has to be the more concious the ships have been in preventing an outbreak. On the Caribbean Princess you were not allowed near the buffet line without first having some hand sanitizer squirted on you. In many cases, a crew member was there to administer the sanitizer, in other cases they were there just to watch and "gently" remind you if you forgot.
Even if you went up for seconds, it required another round of sanitizer.
Maybe people waiting to get onboard airplanes should be required to sanitize their hands. That's probable where many of the cruiseline passengers are picking up these germs.
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