Table Of Content
- Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships surge to decade-high levels: How to avoid the stomach bug
- C.D.C. Investigating Gastrointestinal Illness on Luxury Cruise Ship
- What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey) on a cruise ship
- Why are acute gastrointestinal illnesses including noroviruses associated with cruise ships?
- Diagnostic Tests for Acute Viral Respiratory Illness (ARI)

Completion of testing closer to the time of embarkation (within 1 to 2 days) maximizes the benefit of preventing introduction of infectious persons onboard. Ships that choose to use COVID-19 antigen tests should follow FDA guidance. Commercial maritime travel is characterized by the movement of large numbers of people in enclosed and semi-enclosed settings. Like other close-contact environments, these settings can facilitate the transmission of respiratory viruses from person to person through droplets and small particles or potentially through contact with contaminated surfaces. A cruise ship's medical facility can treat only passengers experiencing minor health issues - seasickness, scrapes, sunburns, etc. More severe medical emergencies can't be handled on the ship and usually require medevacs.
Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships surge to decade-high levels: How to avoid the stomach bug
Choosing a cruise line that’s a member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)—the largest trade association for the cruise industry—means you’ll know the ship meets or surpasses a minimum standard for health and safety. CLIA requires infirmaries to have an equipped examination room and a room for intensive care. Equipment is required to assess and monitor vital signs, administer medications and IV fluids and process some lab tests like checking blood sugar and electrolyte levels and diagnosing some infections. Other typical onboard equipment includes defibrillators, ventilators, cardiac monitors and stretchers. Regardless, because of the media attention reports of the virus on cruise ships attract, Royal Caribbean Group took action to mitigate cases. There are no internationally specified regulations governing ship infirmaries and medical staffing.
C.D.C. Investigating Gastrointestinal Illness on Luxury Cruise Ship
Matt started Royal Caribbean Blog in 2010 as a place to share his passion for all things Royal Caribbean with readers. He oversees all the writers at Royal Caribbean Blog, and writes a great deal of content on a daily basis. Instead, you could pack hydrogen peroxide wipes (just don’t flush them down the toilet).
What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey) on a cruise ship
☐ Consider prescribing malaria chemoprophylaxis if itinerary includes stops in malaria-endemic areas. ☐ Consider prescribing motion sickness medications for self-treatment. However, antihistamines can interact with other medications and often cause drowsiness and decreased mental alertness, and the nonsedating ones appear to be less effective, the CDC says.
Why are acute gastrointestinal illnesses including noroviruses associated with cruise ships?
In 2016, the number of reported illness outbreaks on cruise ships was 23. The total number of infected was 2504 (of those 2378 passengers and 126 crew). In 2017, the number of reported illness outbreaks on cruise ships was 21. The total number of infected was 2535 (of those 2450 passengers and 85 crew). In 2018, the number of reported illness outbreaks on cruise ships was 15.
Norovirus outbreaks on Royal Caribbean cruise ships eliminated in 2023 - Royal Caribbean Blog
Norovirus outbreaks on Royal Caribbean cruise ships eliminated in 2023.
Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 15:03:42 GMT [source]
When Norovirus outbreaks can't be contained, cruise lines might also pull the ship out of service for a few days for sanitizing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an outbreak on a luxury cruise ship after more than 150 people reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea and vomiting. Although most cruise ship passengers come from countries with routine vaccination programs (e.g., Canada, the United States), many of the crew are from low- or middle-income countries where immunization rates can be low. Outbreaks of hepatitis A, measles, meningococcal disease, mumps, pertussis, rubella, and varicella have all been reported on cruise ships. The majority (82%) of these outbreaks occur among crewmembers; prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, varicella was the most frequently reported VPD. "Each of our ships has a state-of-the-art onboard medical center staffed with highly qualified doctors and nurses, to provide care for both guests and crew while at sea," Norwegian said in its 2021 ESG report.
Cruise ship barred from docking amid outbreak of stomach illness - NBC News
Cruise ship barred from docking amid outbreak of stomach illness.
Posted: Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
If you have any respiratory symptoms on a cruise, you may be asked to take a COVID test—likely on multiple days and with swabs of both the mouth and nostrils—to rule it out. If COVID-19 is ruled out and the ship’s doctor thinks you likely do have just a cold, no one else on board wants to get a cold or other mild illness either. So be extra diligent about washing your hands often, and wear a KN/N95-type mask to keep your germs from spreading. Though ships are equipped with stabilizers to maximize comfort, seasickness can happen to even those with the strongest of stomachs in rough waters.
Outbreaks 2014 reports

The vessel received an unusually low score of 67, nearly 20 points below the agency's passing grade. 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.
Diagnostic Tests for Acute Viral Respiratory Illness (ARI)

What causes Norovirus on cruise vessels is mainly contaminated food/water. When it comes to ships, it spreads mostly through physical contact with sick people or handling contaminated objects. This includes sharing food/utensils and poor hygiene (not washing hands after bathroom use).
Port agents will often arrange a taxi or even an ambulance to the treatment center for you. In the best-case scenario, your appointment will be quick, your issue resolved or aided by the specialist, and you can hop back on board to your cruise cabin to heal while watching the scenery go by. The reported cases are totals for the entire voyage and do not represent how many people are actively sick at any one time, the CDC said. Check CDC’s webpage for your destination to see what vaccines or medicines you may need and what diseases or health risks are a concern at your destination. There’s no specific treatment or antiviral for norovirus, according to Ostrosky, but most cases can be managed at home with supportive care like hydration and rest.
A new AARP survey shows 81 percent of adults 50-plus who plan to travel in 2023 believe it’s safe to do so now, up from 77 percent in 2021. And while interest in cruising is down slightly among the 50-plus population this year compared to last, a recent AAA survey finds that, overall, the share of travelers considering a cruise vacation in 2023 is up. Carnival Corp. has agreements with multiple university medical centers to conduct consultations with specialists. Scott said situations like that are "not that frequent." He also noted that the company developed Health Operations Centers at the start of the pandemic, which are based in offices on shore and can provide support to those working onboard.
Seasickness manifests in different ways and is always a result of the body's attempt to correct for the conflicting inputs received from its senses. Common symptoms are cold sweat, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea. When such symptoms are noticed, passengers should take precautions to prevent intensifying the disorientation. Seasickness is physical disorientation as a result of conflicting signals received by the brain from different body senses. Our inner ear senses the ship's irregular motion, which our eyes can't see because the floor and walls are stable. Depending on individual balance, our ability to adjust to motions varies, so not everyone experiences seasickness.
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