Norovirus Outbreak on Cruise: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that more than 230 passengers and crew members have been sickened due to highly infectious norovirus.
According to New York Times, the norovirus outbreak has occurred during a 29-day round-trip luxury cruise from England to the Eastern Caribbean. According to Cruise Mapper, a tracking site, the Queen Mary 2, the flagship ocean liner of Cunard Lines, left from Southampton, England, on March 8.
CDC revealed that an outbreak was reported on March 18 after the ship had stopped in New York City. Passengers and crew had reported symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. The ship has isolated them and has taken sanitizing measures, it said. The US agency also revealed that the C.D.C. said the outbreak spread to 224 passengers, out of 2,538 onboard, and 17 crew members.
In addition to New York, the ship had stops in St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts and Tortola. On Tuesday, the Queen Mary, or QM2 as it’s known, was traveling through the Atlantic Ocean on its way back to Southampton, where it was scheduled to arrive on April 6, Cruise Mapper shows.
What is norovirus?
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes it is also called he “stomach flu” or the “stomach bug.” The flu is caused by the influenza virus. Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines.
Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days; but they can still spread the virus for a few days after, CDC says. Moreover, the infection is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States.
The first norovirus outbreak occurred in Norwalk, Ohio, USA, in a school in 1968. For this reason, the first strain of norovirus was known as the Norwalk virus.
What are the symptoms of norovirus?
Symptoms of norovirus include:
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Stomach pain.
In addition, you may also have:
- A headache.
- Fever.
- Body aches.
Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and last one to three days, Cleveland Clinic says.
How is norovirus treated?
There isn’t a cure for norovirus. According to Cleveland Clinic, treatment for the infection focuses on relieving your symptoms, which will go away in one to three days. You can manage your symptoms by:
- Drinking plenty of liquids, especially liquids that contain electrolytes.
- Getting a lot of rest.
- Eating soft, bland foods.
Can norovirus be prevented?
Some precautions you can take to reduce your risk of getting norovirus include:
- Washing your hands often with soap and water.
- Washing your food before eating it (fruits and vegetables).
- Cooking your food thoroughly (especially seafood or shellfish) or to an appropriate temperature (at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit, or 62.77 degrees Celsius).
- Avoiding contact with people who have a norovirus infection.
- Cleaning and sanitizing frequently touched surfaces and objects.
- Washing your clothes thoroughly, especially if they’re soiled.