More than 140 fall ill with unexplained virus on cruise ship
The Navigator of the Seas was carrying 3,194 passengers on a seven-night cruise and was heading from Los Angeles to Mexico when people started to fall ill. Seven members of crew and 134 passengers started vomiting, suffering abdominal cramps and having diarrhoea.
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said: "The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority. To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.'
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The US Centers for Disease Control has taken samples and is investigating the cause of the outbreak. The symptoms match acute gastroenteritis (AGE). caused by norovirus. Norovirus has been responsible for most of the 18 gastrointestinal disease outbreaks on ships this year.
The CDC said: "Norovirus is often a cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships, but we don't always know the cause of the outbreak when we begin an investigation.
"Finding the agent that caused an outbreak (causative agent) can take time. When an outbreak occurs, people whose symptoms met the case definition are asked to provide stool or vomitus samples."
It added: "These samples are tested to determine the causative agent. In this outbreak, samples are pending confirmatory testing."
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes acute gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It's one of the most common causes of foodborne illness and can affect people of all ages.
Symptoms usually appear 12–48 hours after exposure and include: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, fever, headache and body aches
Symptoms typically last 1–3 days, but people can remain contagious for several days after symptoms stop.
Prevention: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water (hand sanitiser is less effective); disinfect contaminated surfaces with bleach-based cleaners; avoid preparing food for others while sick and for at least 2–3 days after recovery
There is no specific treatment for norovirus; management focuses on hydration and rest. In severe cases (especially in young children, the elderly, or immunocompromised individuals), hospitalisation may be necessary due to dehydration.
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