Deadly mystery strain’s impact on tourism and cruising?

Two questions are immediately raised by the deadly and mysterious E. coli outbreak that has killed almost two dozen people and sickened thousands: could it affect tourism but perhaps even more immediate, what is the impact on cruise ships?
 

The recent European outbreak of a more lethal strain of E. coli is being described using terms such as "new mystery strain," "never before seen," "unusually toxic," "super toxic," "lethal," and the dreaded "seems unstoppable."
 

This outbreak, already seen as the deadliest in history, will almost certainly have little impact on destinations since these incidents are usually confined to specific areas. The latest episode involves Hamburg or northern Germany.
 

Much more at potential risk: cruises.
 

They have had occasional similar outbreaks though never to the extent of the recent one, but passenger lines are taking the issue seriously. There are two reasons cruise ships may be particularly vulnerable to such outbreaks. Millions of travelers to Europe every year make shore visits. And at each port, cruise ships stock up on supplies to keep passengers fed until they reach the next port.
 

Princess Cruises says it is working closely with the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to monitor the E. coli outbreak in Germany.
 

“Almost all the cases have been reported in people living in Northern Germany or who have recently travelled to the area. The outbreak is suspected to be linked to the consumption of raw vegetables in Northern Germany although the exact origin of the illness is still being investigated,” Princess said in a statement.
 

Princess Cruises does not purchase any fresh food supplies from Germany, the company says.
 

“Our enhanced food sanitation procedures onboard requires that all fresh fruits and vegetables, irrespective of their origin, are washed then sanitized before being served,” continues Princess.
 

In addition to shipboard procedures, the cruise line has stopped the serving of all raw fruits and vegetables on Princess-sponsored shore excursions in Germany. All passengers sailing on ships

in Europe have been issued health advisories regarding the situation.
 

“The cruise lines have been very quick to act on the recent outbreak and some, such as Princess Cruises and Holland America, have altered their menus to ensure that no raw produce which could possibly be contaminated will be served to guests,” reported one blogger.
 

The reaction of other cruise lines ranged from expressing confidence in their suppliers to issuing assurances that no fresh produce was coming aboard from Germany.
 

The outbreak “continues to cause alarm throughout Europe,” writes Cruise Critic. “Though the center of the outbreak appears to be in Germany, most of the continent is on watch for the deadly bacteria.”
 

Since early May, thousands have flooded hospitals in Europe, complaining of diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. A surprising number have endured kidney failure. Like the other victims in the United States, each had recently visited the Hamburg area of Germany, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 

The outbreak has been blamed on a highly aggressive, "supertoxic" strain of E. coli — perhaps one scientists have never before seen.
 

E. coli can be found in the feces of humans and livestock and can spread to produce through sloppy bathroom habits among farmworkers and through animal waste in fields and irrigation water.
 

Organic farms tend to use more manure than other producers.
 

There have been prior cases of E. coli or norovirus type incidents aboard ships. In February of 2010, about one in four of the 1800 passengers aboard a Celebrity Cruise ship developed upset stomachs, vomiting and diarrhea on a cruise from Charleston, SC.
 

These are symptoms similar to recent cases. The cruise line dispatched an extra doctor and nurse to meet the ship mid-way through its 11-day cruise.
 

The disease was not fatal, however, though the recent E. coli outbreak has led so far to 22 deaths and sickened another 2,231, so far. Some of the victims were from the US, including a Michigan tourist who contracted the disease after visiting Hamburg. He is recovering at home.
 

Such outbreaks as the Celebrity Cruise incident were not unusual in the past but have become less so; there were 34 in 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but only 13 in 2009, all of which were generally mild.
 

E. coli is very common. Hundreds of strains, most of them harmless, live in the intestines of humans, cows and numerous other animals. But some produce toxins that can cause diarrhea, sometimes severe enough to trigger kidney failure, and even death.
 

Scientists are still seeking the cause of the outbreaks, which was generally attributed to sprouts from an organic farm in northern Germany until that country’s state agriculture ministry issued a statement saying that appeared not to be the cause.
 

"The search for the outbreak’s cause is very difficult as several weeks have passed since its suspected start," the ministry said in a statement, cautioning that further testing of the sprouts and their seeds was necessary to identify the cause.
 

In Geneva, Gregory Hartl, a spokesman for the World Health Organization, said, “What we understand is this is a strain which has never been detected in an outbreak situation before.” He said scientists at “many laboratories” were working to gather more information about the strain.
 

By David Wilkening