Cruise Ship Nightmare! Norovirus Hits, Leaving Passengers Sick!
A Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Serenade of the Seas, has docked in Miami after a 13-day voyage plagued by a norovirus outbreak. Nearly 100 passengers and several crew members fell ill during the trip, according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The ship departed from San Diego on September 19th and made stops in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia before reaching its final destination. Passengers began experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting shortly after departure.
"You suddenly got kind of violently ill shortly after dinner," one passenger recounted in a TikTok video, sharing their experience of the outbreak. Other passengers noted increased sanitation measures onboard, including the removal of shared items like salt and pepper shakers and mandatory hand sanitization before entering public areas.
What is Norovirus?
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, leading to symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. It spreads easily through contaminated food, water, and surfaces, as well as through close contact with infected individuals.
Why Cruise Ships Are Vulnerable
Cruise ships are particularly susceptible to norovirus outbreaks due to their confined spaces and close proximity of passengers. "Anytime you have crowds and lots of eating environments and people who don’t wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom, then you can easily contaminate surfaces that others will touch," explained infectious disease expert Dr. Aileen Marty.
Royal Caribbean's Response
Royal Caribbean stated that the health and safety of their guests and crew are their top priority. They have implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols, collected stool samples for testing, and isolated affected individuals. The cruise line claims that their cleaning procedures often exceed public health guidelines.
The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program is monitoring the situation and working to prevent and control the spread of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships.
Experts recommend frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 60 seconds and thorough cleaning of surfaces to prevent the spread of norovirus.