What causes illness on cruise ships?

What causes illness on cruise ships?

Norovirus is the most common cause of mass illness on cruise ships, and when it hits, it can hit hard, sometimes affecting hundreds of passengers on a single cruise.

What was the virus on cruise ships?

The agency’s Vessel Sanitation Program was informed of an outbreak that had sickened 117 passengers and eight crew members on a ship sailing from Germany to New York City. Stool samples revealed that the passengers and crew members were sickened with norovirus, a common stomach virus.

What cruise line did everyone get sick on?

More than 500 passengers sickened on Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The number of people hit with a gastrointestinal illness on a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship has swelled to nearly 500, a company spokeswoman said Friday.

What does Code Bravo mean on a cruise ship?

fire
An “Alpha” is a medical emergency, a “Bravo” is a fire, and “Kilo” is a request for all personnel to report to their emergency posts, which happens in the event of, say, a necessary evacuation. Be wary of “Echo,” which is called if the ship is starting to drift, or “Oscar,” which means someone’s gone overboard.

Why do so many people get sick on cruise ships?

The cause of most cruise line norovirus outbreaks is contaminated food or water. The way it spreads is through physical contact. With over 3,000 people in close quarters aboard these ships, obviously the disease spreads quickly.

Are cruise ships a health risk?

And cruise-ships pose some unique health risks, too, from infections that can spread quickly in the boats close quarters to insect-borne diseases at ports-of-call. Understanding the realities of medicine at sea can help keep your “Love Boat” dream trip from turning into a “Poseidon Adventure” medical disaster.

What is cruise ship sickness?

The illness that’s often described as the “cruise ship sickness” is norovirus–a group of viruses that infect the stomach and intestines. Though norovirus has earned a reputation as a cruise-wrecker, it doesn’t just strike at sea. It can spread wherever you share food or a confined space with a group of people,…

What is cruise ship disease?

Cruise ship hot tubs contaminated with Legionella organisms are the most common causes of outbreaks. The disease will usually begin with a headache, muscle pain, chills, and fever, but will progressively get worse with a cough, shortness of breath, chest pains, or confusion.