A recent Celebrity Summit cruise took an unfortunate turn when a norovirus outbreak caused 152 guests and 25 staff to fall ill. The ship, operated by Celebrity Cruises , was en route to Bermuda and South Carolina when the virus was spreading rapidly among guests.
Often called "stomach flu" or "stomach virus," norovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Control is particularly difficult on cruise ships due to the close proximity of the accommodations, the shared dining rooms and the rapid turnover of passengers.
The CDC commended the response of the crew and cruise line, adding that they followed all protocols to the letter.
Celebrity highlight of the norovirus outbreak
At the Celebrity Summit, May 15-25, a norovirus outbreak occurred on a cruise ship bound for Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard from New Jersey. King's Wharf, Bermuda; and Charleston, South Carolina. 152 guests, about 7% of the total number of guests on board, and 25 crew members, about 2.6% of the total crew, fell ill.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated the incident and found those affected to have noticeable symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and headaches.
This outbreak is one of 12 significant cases of gastrointestinal illnesses, five of which were confirmed international cruise ship norovirus outbreaks, that the CDC reported this year. Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and P&O Cruises have reported onboard outbreaks this year .
With four cases in 2022 and just one in 2021, the number is higher than in previous years, although the global pause in operations also played a role in the lower numbers.
In 2019, the year before the pandemic hit the industry, there were 10 incidents, up from 11 in 2018 and 2017. A CDC report highlighted the flight crew's quick and effective response when guests began to get sick.
CDC applauds celebrity summit response
In response to the norovirus outbreak, the CDC commended the excellent response from Celebrity Cruises and the crew aboard the cruise ship Celebrity Summit .
They have intensified cleaning and disinfection procedures in accordance with the ship's epidemic prevention and response plan to contain the spread of the virus.
The company immediately informed current passengers about the situation on board and stressed the importance of reporting illnesses and practicing good hand hygiene. They also collected stool samples from people with gastrointestinal disorders and sent them to the CDC lab for further analysis.
Also Read: Cruise Sickness: How to Protect Yourself
Celebrity Cruises also provided twice-daily gastrointestinal disease case reports to the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) during the outbreak investigation. They also consulted with VSPs on their sanitation cleaning procedures and sickness reporting process, ensuring they were following best practices.
Consequences of surfing with norovirus
Due to the extensive media coverage of these events, norovirus is often referred to as the "cruise ship virus". Although the CDC states that norovirus is the leading cause of cruise ship outbreaks at more than 90%, it is important to note that norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships account for only a small percentage (1%) of all cruise ship outbreaks. all reported outbreaks.
When a cruise ship sails with a norovirus outbreak, the impact on passengers, crew and the cruise line can be significant.
Closed accommodation , shared dining areas, and rapid passenger turnover on cruise ships make controlling a norovirus outbreak difficult. The virus can be transmitted via contaminated food or water on board, or by passengers who become infected ashore.
In addition to the significant impairment of the holiday experience for affected customers, there are a large number of consequences that cruise ships absolutely want to avoid. For example, this may result in certain areas of the ship such as restaurants, pools and other areas being closed to allow for thorough cleaning and disinfection.
The cruise line itself could face significant consequences. This can include financial loss due to additional cleaning, possible refunds or compensation to affected customers, and damage to the company's reputation. The CDC may even require the ship to return to port early if the outbreak is severe enough.
Incidents like the ones we've seen this year could also contribute to the notion that cruise ships are vulnerable to outbreaks. As such, cruise lines are investing heavily in prevention measures, including strict cleaning and hygiene protocols, to minimize the risk of such outbreaks.
Despite occasional news reports of norovirus on board cruise ships, it's important to remember that these incidents are rare compared to the number of cruise ships that put to sea each year.
Thousands of cruise ships board each year, carrying millions of passengers, and only a small fraction experience such outbreaks. Despite what online alarmists might tell you, strict health and safety protocols make a cruise one of the safest vacation options available .
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