Here is an article that I read after we returned from WDW last Dec. It tells all of the norwalk virus. I think it was Dec 13, 2003
Cruise Ships Trying to Prevent Further Outbreaks
As the winter months descend upon the Midwest, many Wisconsinites are escaping the cold by taking a cruise to a warmer climate. Most cruise ship vacations include stops in exotic or at least sunny locations, making cruises an increasingly popular way to take a break from Old Man Winter. But in recent months, hundreds of travelers have become ill aboard cruise ships. The most common illnesses have been Norwalk-like viruses, which cause mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms.
Gary Barnas, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine) at the Medical College of Wisconsin, gave us some facts about the viruses. The original Norwalk virus was named for its first occurrence in Norwalk, Ohio, he says. All other similar outbreaks are now called Norwalk-like. Symptoms of illness from Norwalk-like viruses include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. The entire GI tract can be affected, reports Dr. Barnas, but fortunately, these illnesses usually run their course in two to three days. The Norwalk-like viruses are among the most common causes of diarrhea, especially in travelers. They affect many confined sites on land as well, such as schools and nursing homes.
How is the Virus Spread?
The viruses are spread through hand-to-mouth contact, says Dr. Barnas. This is definitely a hygiene issue. People pick up the viruses through contact with others, or from contaminated surfaces on the ship. The problem is compounded by passengers who are unwilling to report their illness to the ships medical facility, for fear they will be confined to their cabin and miss out on the remainder of their cruise. They could be unknowingly spreading the virus, reports Dr. Barnas, and in the recent cruise ship cases, passenger-to-passenger spread is the most common factor. Dr. Barnas emphasizes the fact that the viruses may live on surfaces for several days in some cases weeks so even after a cruise has ended, the virus might still be active when the next set of passengers boards the ship.
For this reason, the cruise lines in question have implemented disinfection procedures on each of the ships affected with the virus. Ships are scrubbed from top to bottom with a chlorine solution, and special attention is given to high-contact surfaces like doorknobs and handrails. Buffet lines are currently banned on most of the ships, with crew members serving food and drinks to passengers instead.
Prevention
How do you avoid getting sick on your cruise? The answer is simple: proper hygiene. Frequent hand washing is essential to the prevention of illness, says Dr. Barnas, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Try to keep your hands away from your mouth as much as possible, and keep physical contact with other passengers to a minimum.
Treatment
The most important treatment for most of these illnesses is simply to keep hydrated, says Dr. Barnas. Dehydration is always a risk in gastrointestinal illness, and drinking fluids is key to a quick recovery. We can treat symptoms if necessary, but its usually best to just let the illness run its course.
High Standards
Its important to note that US-registered ships have the highest hygiene standards in the world. The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) oversees sanitation practices on all US cruise ships. The program requires ship medical staff to keep detailed records of passengers health complaints and to report any possible cases of viral illness to the CDC immediately. If more than 2% of the passengers aboard any vessel show gastrointestinal symptoms, the ship must undergo special procedures to disinfect all common areas. The VSP has strict sanitation rules regarding general and specific health conditions aboard cruise ships, and it runs frequent cruise ship inspections, both scheduled and unannounced.
Sick Ships: The Latest from the CDC
Currently, the CDC is investigating several ships in regard to reports of passenger illness. Holland Americas Amsterdam, Disneys Magic, Carnivals Fascination, and P & O UKs Oceana are among the ships under investigation. The Amsterdam returned to service on December 1, and its staff has been providing daily reports to the CDC. As of December 9, the vessel reported that 9 of 1,190 passengers and 2 of 577 crew members experienced a gastrointestinal illness. The Amsterdam returned to port on December 11, and no additional follow-up is required.
After a week of extensive cleaning and disinfection, the Disney Magic returned to service on December 7. Disney had reported 104 cases of gastrointestinal illness in 2,485 passengers aboard the ship, and in 19 crew members out of 1,003. It was taken out of service for the cleaning. The Magic will be providing the CDC with daily reports through the end of its current cruise.
Food and water samples taken from the Fascination for the cruise ending December 2, 2002 are still pending. As of December 9, the vessel has completed two additional cruises. The CDCs vessel sanitation staff was notified by theFascination's medical staff reported that for the cruise ending December 6, 13 of 2,042 passengers and 12 of 907 crew members had reported gastrointestinal illness. For the cruise ending December 9, 6 of 2038 passengers and 7 of 922 crew members reported ill. No other follow-up is planned by the CDC.
On December 7, CDC staff boarded the Oceana to conduct interviews with ill passengers and crew. As of December 9, the vessels medical staff notified the CDC that 197 of 1,859 passengers and 15 of 868 crew members had reported to the ships infirmary with gastrointestinal illness. All of the passengers originated in the United Kingdom and flew on chartered aircraft to Ft. Lauderdale, the boarding point. Most of the ill passengers were reported to be on one chartered flight originating in Manchester, United Kingdom. On November 29 the vessel underwent a routine, unannounced inspection, and the Oceana scored high 95 out of 100 points for sanitation standards.
Dont Cancel Your Plans
Dr. Barnas stresses that Wisconsinites planning a cruise ship vacation should not cancel their travel plans. Only a small percentage of passengers have become ill, and people who are generally healthy dont need to be too concerned about the Norwalk-like viruses. Dr. Barnas does have some important reminders for anyone planning to take a cruise, though: The best form of protection against illness is frequent handwashing. We cant stress that enough. And if you do become ill, either on the ship or on a land excursion away from the ship, remember to report your illness to the medical facility on the ship so they can try to prevent further outbreaks. Also, some cruise lines are giving partial refunds to passengers who need to cancel their trip because of sickness, so be sure to look into that as well.
The internet cafe? All I can say is "disposable latex gloves" (am I going overboard here?)Sorry, but working with newborns, you can never be too cautious.
