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More than 250 passengers on cruise ship infected with Norovirus
Hundreds of passengers on a British cruise liner named "Balmoral" have become infected with Norovirus. The ship left Southampton last month and since then at least 252 passengers and eight members of the crew have contracted the virus.
Most people cruise to relax, have a great time, and see more of the world. Certainly nobody wants an unpleasant gastrointestinal disease during a vacation on a cruise. On the British cruise ship, however, it has now come to an outbreak of norovirus infections. Already over 250 people on board the "Balmoral" are ill, reports the British magazine "The Independent". And that was not the first incident of this kind.
A cruise is an unforgettable experience. Foreign countries, wonderful weather, relaxation and great food for weeks. As long as no one has taken the norovirus, because then the situation changes. (Image: Lsantilli / fotolia.com) Already several similar outbreaks on the same ship
The journey of the British cruise ship "Balmoral" is under the motto: From Old England to New England. Currently, the ship is on its way to the Canadian province of Brunswick, employees told the Independent. Previously, however, the entire ship had to undergo an inspection by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the owners of the ship "Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines "quoted by the newspaper. The company said in a statement that "Balmoral" has left the United States and is on its way to New Brunswick.
The ship was never quarantined in any port on the voyage, and the voyage will continue as planned, the owners add, according to Independent. The company claims to have undertaken extensive sanitation to clean the entire ship. Here, employees would follow a knit plan to contain and prevent disease. The "Balmoral" is a ship that mainly carries British tourists. There have been similar outbreaks in recent years.
Noroviruses are common where many people are in a small space
The noroviruses were detected last week in Baltimore while the ship was docked there. A team of CDC experts conducted an assessment of the situation and subsequently assessed the outbreak. Despite measures taken by the CDC and increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, the number of cases later increased to more than a quarter of all persons on board, reports the magazine "Independent". The highly infectious gastrointestinal disease has been brought to the ship by tourists and transferred there via direct contact or indirect contact via surfaces, the company's employees explain.
Hotels, schools, hospitals and cruise liners are often involved in outbreaks of the disease because there is a high volume of people in a confined space. Already in 2010 at least 310 people on board the "Balmoral" suffered vomiting, which was caused by a virus. In 2009, another confirmed outbreak was observed, this time more than 100 people were affected, writes the Independent. The company Fred. According to the newspaper, Olsen declared that it cooperates fully with all the necessary maritime institutions and authorities. It continues to make every effort to ensure the safety and well-being of all guests and crew, the company adds.
What is the norovirus?
Norovirus is especially responsible for unpleasant gastrointestinal infections. For example, sufferers may experience severe, uncontrolled vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The symptoms are typical of norovirus. The risk of infection by the viruses is very high and a targeted treatment is important to counteract the occurring fluid loss. The viruses are distributed around the world and can be counted among the most common pathogens of non-bacterial gastrointestinal diseases in adults and children, explain the experts. The disease is particularly common in people over 70 years and children under 5 years. The occurrence of the disease on cruise ships has often been determined previously. (As)