Norovirus cruise ship outbreaks on the rise
While concerns over cruise ship Covid outbreaks have eased, Norovirus is back with a bang.
Cruise ship norovirus outbreaks are at their highest level for more than 10 years.
There have been 13 outbreaks on cruise ships since the beginning of 2023.
That is the most since 2012.
In fact, it is more than in the whole of 2022.
There have been almost 2,000 confirmed cases of cruise ship guests and crew.
Last month, 110 Viking Cruises passengers and eight crew members fell ill on a New York cruise.
Norovirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus that can be contracted through the air or from contaminated surfaces.
Outbreaks have occurred on Celebrity Cruises, Viking, Princess, Royal Caribbean and P&O Cruises.
Norovirus cases on cruise ships had been declining since 2006 up until the Covid pandemic.
Although cruise ship outbreaks tend to make the headlines, norovirus infects millions of Americans annually.
It can strike in hotels, large buffet restaurants and other public facilities.
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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.
Lyn DresSep 22, 2023 06:43 PM
Just got back from 11 days cruise, AND WE both got Covid the last day. we've never ever been this sick...and we had just made an appointment for the 4th booster...but never was able to get it. Now we have to wait 4 months. No one at the cruise line or at the CDS knows we contracted it on the ship--BECAUSE NO ONE IS CHECKING!!!!!!!!! The cruise lines could do a MUCH BETTER JOB OF KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY..THEY JUST WON'T DO IT
Log in to Reply[email protected]Jul 15, 2023 08:51 PM
Going away for a Cruise on the Norwegian Jade on the 1st August hope it will be good
Log in to Reply[email protected]Jul 15, 2023 06:09 PM
I had it on Crown Princess in May. Its the most unwell I have ever felt. It has made me reconsider cruising. Mind you there was little evidence of cleaning going on when on the ship.
Log in to ReplyElaineJul 14, 2023 02:17 AM
The recent Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships, compared to the prior years during and after Covid, tells us that sanitation standards have dropped drastically, especially in terms of ship facility sanitation, hand sanitation stands and requirements, and mask requirements in case of current outbreaks. Cruise lines should reinstate many of the lapsed standards. It's the right thing to do for the cruise lines and the passengers.
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