"Cruise ships are seeing a record year for outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses. So far, there have been 20 outbreaks on the vessels, mostly of norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year, which was also a record year for outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness, there were 18. The latest outbreak involved the Oceania Insignia of Oceania Cruises on an 11-day (October 16-27) Montreal to Boston cruise, the CDC reported."
"The highly contagious norovirus often resembles the stomach flu, and cases most often occur from November to April. Cruise ships can see outbreaks because people live in close quarters and share dining areas for an extended period of time, but these instances represent only 1% of all reported norovirus cases in the United States, according to the CDC. The growing number of outbreaks aboard cruise ships may reflect how popular cruising is becoming."
Cruise ships have recorded 20 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks this year, mostly norovirus, surpassing last year’s 18 outbreaks. An outbreak on the Oceania Insignia during an October 16–27 Montreal-to-Boston cruise sickened 75 people: 74 of 637 passengers (11.6%) and 1 of 391 crew (0.3%); symptoms included diarrhea and vomiting. Norovirus is highly contagious, mimics the stomach flu, and peaks from November through April. Close quarters and shared dining on cruise ships facilitate transmission, though ship outbreaks account for only 1% of U.S. norovirus cases. Rising cruise popularity may contribute, with AAA projecting 20.7 million U.S. cruisers in 2025 and 21.7 million in 2026.
Read at SFGATE
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]