New norovirus outbreak on cruise ship
Health officials from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating another suspected outbreak of norovirus.
If confirmed, this will be the fourth major outbreak aboard a cruise ship this year.
An environmental health officer and an epidemiologist from the CDC boarded the Holland America cruise ship MS Veendam when it arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the weekend with 114 passengers and 10 crew members reportedly affected by sickness.
The vessel has since departed for its next Panama Canal cruise.
The ship was carrying 1,273 passengers and 575 crew and "prior to guests boarding for the next cruise, the ship underwent a thorough sanitation," according to a statement issued yesterday by the cruise line.
Samples are still being analyzed from affected passengers and crew who contracted norovirus-like symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
The effects of Norovirus generally last for between 24-72 hours.
Rules require that all cruise lines inform the CDC if more than 2% of the crew and passengers become ill during a voyage and if the total were to exceed 3% it is officially classified as an outbreak.
In 2012, the MS Veendam failed an inspection by the CDC highlighting sanitation and food safety violations.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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