Thread: Norvo outbreak on Amsterdam

Stomach virus hits 142 people on cruise out of San Diego

By Angelica Martinez
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM
4:44 p.m. March 22, 2006
SAN DIEGO – More than 140 people returned to San Diego on Wednesday from a cruise to Hawaii during which they became ill from a stomach virus, officials said.
Holland America Line's crews are conducting a “super sanitation” of the cruise liner “Amsterdam” after all 1,370 passengers got off the ship, said Erik Elvejord, the company's spokesman. The ship is scheduled to depart again late Wednesday.

Some of the 142 passengers who have reported the ailment started getting sick after the ship left San Diego on March 7.

Cruise officials notified the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immediately, as they are required to do, Elvejord said.

CDC officials said the source of the outbreak appears to be norovirus, which is spread by people not properly washing their hands after using the bathroom, said Dave Forney, chief of the agency's vessel sanitation program.

Cruise ships are known to have these outbreaks because large groups of people are together in close quarters for days and come in contact with the same surfaces, he said.

“Several ships have (the outbreaks) but it's not a cruise ship problem. It's a people problem,” Forney said.

Symptoms of a norovirus infection, which usually lasts 24 to 48 hours, include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The virus can be acquired a day or two before such symptoms appear, Forney said. In several cases, health officials have traced the illness to passengers who admitted they felt sick before embarking on their cruise, he added.

In most cases, no special medical treatment is required. But in serious cases, patients may need to be treated for dehydration. The ship's pharmacy has an assortment of medicines to help treat the symptoms, Elvejord said.

During the trip, crew members tried to prevent the spread of the virus by notifying guests about the outbreak and reminding them to wash their hands frequently, Elvejord said.

Ship officials also closed the salad bar and had employees serve meals to the passengers while wearing gloves, he said.

This was the second virus outbreak in as many weeks in San Diego, where cruise ships dock regularly.

Such viruses affect 23 million people every year, according to the CDC.

Hate to hear that! We went through it one year on Veendam. It puts a damper on the cruise even for those who do not get sick ....

I can imagine Lulu...
It's difficult enough to get through the buffets and all, but then to have them having to serve you totally must be a nightmare. I understand that all of the measures are important to quelling the virus, but it sure would put a damper on the cruise.

I have to disagree with it being a nightmare going through the buffet.

Twice I have been on a ship when they served you in the Lido because of Norwalk. The line actually moved FASTER. People were not just picking through everything at a snails pace. The servers kept the line MOVING.

Sea Otter-
Thanks for your comment. I had just read other folks complaints about the slowness of the process, having never been on a ship that was affected..

And yet another negative cruise news comes out. Maybe it will cause the prices to come down, then I can afford more cruises,

One damper was the first night there was no salt or pepper packets on any of the tables in the dining room. The waiters came over with the salt and pepper and shook it on your food. :thumbsdow

Next day I took packets from the Lido and brought them to the dining room. Lo and Behold they had packets on the tables.

If this ever happens on one of my cruises again, I will be prepared at all times with salt and pepper.

Kind of funny about the buffet isn't it? It sure was nice not standing next to someone who just stares for a while, then when they fianlly decide, they pick through the tray to get that "certain one" they want.

Originally Posted by Sea Otter

One damper was the first night there was no salt or pepper packets on any of the tables in the dining room. The waiters came over with the salt and pepper and shook it on your food. :thumbsdow

If this ever happens on one of my cruises again, I will be prepared at all times with salt and pepper.

So agree!

Fortunately, we always have a travel packet with salt, pepper, and Tabisco sauce in our cabin in case room service forgets ....

Certainly came in handy to take to the dining room and buffets when THEY were trying to do it for us ....

Yes...the cruise industry has been getting pummeled the last few weeks with negative press...hope things make a turn around very soon!