Royal Caribbean cruise passengers left ‘vomiting' as mystery illness hits vessel & over 140 people are ill on board
Some travelers were left vomiting, while others were suffering from diarrhea.
A total of 134 passengers and seven crew members complained of feeling ill while on board The Navigator of the Seas vessel.
The ship had left Los Angeles on July 4 and was heading to Mexico.
It docked in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on July 8 before arriving back in Los Angeles three days later, according to its Cruise Mapper itinerary.
Health chiefs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not identified a cause behind the illness.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said the health and safety of crew members and passengers are the company's top priority, as per USA Today.
Travelers who reported symptoms were isolated and the ship was cleaned.
1
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
24 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Depression, suicides, overdoses: broad impacts of US wildfires revealed in study
New research looking at the aftermath of some of the deadliest wildfires to have struck the US in recent years has shed light on the devastating effects the disasters have on human health, with impacts that extend far beyond the official death toll and injury counts. Three studies published this week examine the long-term fallout from the Maui and Los Angeles wildfires, including depression, suicide and overdose deaths, lung damage, and deaths caused by healthcare disruptions. The August 2023 Hawaii blazes killed more than 100 people, in what was the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century, and destroyed the town of Lahaina. The fires that tore through the LA communities of Altadena and the Pacific Palisades earlier this year killed 31 people and destroyed more than 18,000 structures. Some of the new research found that the Maui fire left one in five people with lung damage, and as many as half with symptoms of depression. That study, co-led by Ruben Juarez of the University of Hawaii, looked at more than 1,100 adults six to 14 months after the Maui fire. It found lower lung function in people in areas close to the fire compared with those in lower-exposure areas, with about 22% experiencing below-normal lung function. Additionally, about 40% of people reported their health had declined since the fires, according to the study, and close to half mentioned increased fatigue and weakness, eye irritation and lung-related symptoms. 'It's a stark reminder that wildfires can leave an invisible but lasting scar on respiratory health, long after the flames are gone,' Juarez told the Associated Press in an email. During the month of the fire, 13 suicides were reported in the area, nearly double the normal suicide and overdose death rates, another study found. The study of the Los Angeles fires, led by researchers in Finland, concluded that in addition to at least 30 deaths attributed to the fire, more than 400 deaths between January and February could be blamed on the event because of interruptions in healthcare and other factors. Dr Jonathan Patz, a University of Wisconsin environmental public health researcher who was not involved with the research, said the studies add 'a really important piece to the understanding of the true health risks from these extreme climatic events'. As the climate crisis fuels worsening disasters across the US, from flooding to deadly wildfires, scientists are trying to gain a better understanding of the impacts of extreme weather events. Research into the effects of wildfire smoke has surged in recent years as massive blazes have caused orange skies and unhealthy air for millions of people from the west coast to New York. A 2021 study found that breathing wildfire smoke during pregnancy raises the risk of premature birth. Research published earlier this year found the climate crisis contributed to about 15,000 deaths from exposure to small particulate matter from wildfires and cost about $160bn between 2006 and 2020. Another study, published in 2024, determined that wildfire smoke prematurely killed more than 50,000 people in California over a decade. Kristie Ebi of the University of Washington noted that there is a growing understanding that wildfire smoke can be more toxic than standard air pollution. 'It's not just leaves and branches and trees' that are burned, she said. 'It's buildings. It's gasoline stations. It's old houses that have asbestos in them. It's automobiles. There are lots of components of wildfire smoke.' She said the study of the Maui fire suggests 'this toxicity is affecting people's long-term lung function', but noted more research is needed to look at cause and effect. Meanwhile, the research calculating rates of suicide and overdose deaths in Maui and Hawaii's four other counties found a 97% increase in both on Maui during the month of the wildfires. The total number of suicide and overdose deaths was 13 that month, most of them suicides. That's a significant increase, Ebi said. They also found a 46% increase in such deaths in all five counties, which may have been influenced by displaced Maui residents migrating to other islands, the authors said. But rates fell in the following months. In addition to the studies published this week, a new report from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO), which is based on nearly a year of data from surveys of 950 people, documented the challenges that persist for those affected by the Maui fire. Two years later, some have found permanent housing and greater economic stability, but many people are still displaced and have faced long-term income loss and high rent burdens. While permanent housing is increasing, poverty rates in the region have almost doubled as full-time employment has not yet fully returned to pre-fire levels and nearly 60% of households report lower income. 'Our findings show two realities unfolding side by side,' said Daniela Bond-Smith, a UHERO research economist. 'Some households are finding new footing – moving into stable housing, returning to work and regaining stability. But others are still living with deep uncertainty, especially those with limited support and population groups who had already been marginalized prior to the fires.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
New York City preparing for outbreak of SECOND 'highly contagious' virus... as cases spread to neighboring states
New York is gearing up for an outbreak of another highly contagious virus, as the number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases spike across the eastern US. As New York City is currently grappling with a Legionnaires' outbreak that has infected 67 people and killed three, doctors in the borough of Staten Island are also raising concern over an uptick in HFMD. A handful of cases have already been reported and there's been reports of increasing cases in multiple states, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, Kansas, and West Virginia. HFMD is a viral disease that can lead to painful lesions forming on the hands, mouth and feet as well as fever and a sore throat. It usually affects children under age 10 with the immune systems of adults typically strong enough to prevent the virus from infecting them. HFMD outbreaks most commonly occur at nurseries and schools, but immunocompromised adults are at risk, too. The CDC does not track cases of the virus so there is little data available on case numbers. However, Dr Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a pediatrician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, revealed she has seen more cases of HFMD in the past few weeks than she has over the past decade. And Dr Natasha Burgert, a Kansas-based pediatrician and national spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said she has seen the same trend. 'What I'm seeing in my own practice mirrors the surge my colleagues are reporting nationwide,' she told The New York Times. HFMD is caused by the virus coxsackievirus 16. It can be passed through the air or by coming into close contact with a person who hasn't washed their hands after using the bathroom. HFMD infections tend to spike in the summer and early fall because children are more likely to mix in environments where the disease can spread, such as at summer camps, pools and theme parks, as well as the start of school. Some studies also suggest that warmer and more humid weather in the summer months may be more favorable for the survival and transmission of the viruses that cause HFMD. HFMD typically causes fever, vomiting and a rash covering the mouth, hands and feet that clears up within 10 days. But in very young patients, the illness can be much more serious and lead to seizures, triggered by inflammation of the fluid surrounding the brain. The disease is highly transmissible, spread via contact with fluids from an infected person, such as from blisters, and by swallowing infected water. Experts warn that water parks can spread the highly contagious disease if their water has not been treated properly, leaving children at risk of infection. In Philadelphia, a water park was closed for a day in July after a child who had visited the location contracted HFMD. About 10 to 15million cases of HFMD are recorded in the US every year, estimates suggest, mostly among children under five years old. Those who are infected are recommended to take over-the-counter pain medications to help relieve fever and pain caused by mouth sores. Patients are also told to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, saying this may happen because mouth sores make it painful to swallow. Children diagnosed with the disease should avoid contact with others for at least seven days in order to dodge them spreading the infection.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
What risk does chikungunya pose to the UK after virus outbreak in China?
Cases of a mosquito-borne viral disease have spiked in China this month as the country imposes Covid-era regulations in the most affected areas. There have been nearly 8,000 cases of chikungunya in under a month, focused largely in Foshan city and Guangdong region. The rapid rise in cases has prompted fears of a wider outbreak, despite the strict measures put in place by Chinese authorities. There is also a rising number of imported chikungunya cases in Europe. According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) here have been 48 cases reported in France since 1 May, alongside two in Italy. Since the beginning of 2025, 240,000 cases and 90 deaths related to chikungunya virus disease have been reported in 16 countries across the globe. In China, authorities have imposed strict measures to prevent the spread of the virus, drawing comparisons to its approach to the Covid pandemic. New rules have seen patients required to stay within quarantine zones inside hospitals, while soldiers wearing masks have been deployed to spray insecticides in public places to exterminate mosquitoes. In the UK, there were 26 infections detected in travellers returning to the country from other locations between January and March this year. The risk in this country remains low, but the UK Health Security Agency is urging people to take precautions when travelling. Hilary Kirkbride, head of travel health at UK Health Security Agency, said: 'There is continued transmission of chikungunya globally and we continue to see infections in travellers returning to the UK. 'It is essential to take precautions against mosquito-borne infections such as chikungunya while travelling abroad. Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering exposed skin and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets, can effectively reduce the risk. 'Before you travel, check the TravelHealthPro website for the latest health advice on your destination. A chikungunya vaccine may also considered for those travelling to higher risk regions.' Here's everything you need to know about the virus: What is chikungunya virus disease? Chikungunya virus disease is a mosquito-borne disease that is widely found in tropical and subtropical regions. It is only spread to humans by a bite from an infected mosquito, and cannot be passed between humans. The 240,000 cases detected in 2025 so far have been found in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Brazil has the most cases, with over 185,553, followed by Bolivia (4,721) and Argentina (2,836). Two French islands off the east coast of Africa, La Réunion and Mayotte, are also experiencing ongoing outbreaks of the disease, with over 55,000 cases combined as of July 2025. The virus was first detected in Tanzania in 1952, after which it spread to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia. It has been reported in 119 countries across the globe to date. What are the symptoms of chikungunya? Most people will develop symptoms of chikungunya within three to seven days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. One of the most pronounced symptoms is joint pain, which can be severe in some cases. Other symptoms include fever, rash, headache, muscle pain and swollen joints. In most cases, an infected individual will feel better within a week. However, severe cases can see joint pain persist for months or even years. Those most at risk from severe symptoms include newborns, older people, and those with underlying health conditions. Deaths from the disease are rare.
