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Recent outbreak aboard Freedom Of The Seas ship sure calls for awareness in cruise community for Norovirus. News and media extensively report about significant number of passengers fell ill onboard the biggest cruise ship same as on Carnival Liberty in November. From its beginning cruise industry is aware of this treat that occasionally affect ships.
So what is Norovirus?
Noroviruses are the most common cause of infectious acute gastroenteritis and they are transmitted feco-orally through water or food, directly by contact from person to person and by environmental contamination. Closed environments such are cruise ships, dormitories, nursing homes and hospitals are most often affected. Somehow media created mass perception that Norovirus is exclusively cruise ship phenomenon which is simply not true. Millions and millions suffer from this virus around the world every year, it can outbreak anywhere anytime.
Virus is most commonly associated with ships because health official are required to extensively and promptly investigate illness on ships so outbreaks are reported promptly. When the incidence of acute gastroenteritis among passengers and crew exceeds 3%, it is defined as outbreak and formal investigation is required.
Norovirus is almost always “brought” on ship by ill passenger where it spreads. It is passed from person to person by common social contacts like shaking hands, sharing same food, not washing hands before and after meals or using bathroom.
 Symptoms are similar to flu: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps…
If you have symptoms promptly go to see a ships doctor and remember to take a lot of water to prevent dehydration. Unfortunately ill persons are required to spend rest of their cruise in cabin and are not allowed to have contact with other people onboard for understandable reasons. Symptoms usually last from 24 to 48 hours but person can be virus carrier up to three weeks after symptoms are gone.
Definitely best way to prevent and fight Norovirus is to maintain level of hygiene. Washing hands with hot water and soap often is absolute “must”. It is also good to pack some extra soap or alcohol-based sanitizers and use them in common sense manner.
Cruise lines, on the other hand, make a tremendous effort to keep ships in highest sanitary conditions. Each ship has a small army of cleaners who work long hours and are highly supervised. Whole sanitary situation is controlled by U.S. Public Health Service whose teams make regular inspections of vessels. It is important to say that no matter how clean ship is it simply cannot be safe from Norovirus because, as we said, virus is almost always “embarked” on ship by ill person.
For those passengers who suffer from Norovirus symptoms while on ship, cruise lines always offer compensations. Details about those may be different from line to line; it depends about each company’s policy.
All written above definitely should not discourage anyone from booking the dream vacation. Getting well informed and taking few simple precaution measures, as always, is proven to be best thing to do to make your time on the ship a truly enjoyable.
Happy cruising!
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