The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that outbreaks on cruise ships make up only a small percentage of the 19 million to 21 million cases reported in a typical year. About 200 individuals on two cruise ships contracted norovirus, according to the CDC.
The CDC reported that during a cruise from April 5 to May 7, 94 out of 2,532 guests on Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess fell ill with the virus, along with twenty crew members. Additionally, 67 out of 1,993 guests and two crew members on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas were affected by the virus during a cruise that ended on April 22.
The CDC is monitoring both cruise ship outbreaks remotely and stated that the cruise lines have taken necessary actions such as collecting stool specimens for testing, isolating ill passengers and crew, and increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures as per the ship’s outbreak prevention and response plan.
Princess Cruises issued a statement attributing the mild gastrointestinal illness cases to the contagious virus known as norovirus. In 2024, there have been six outbreaks of norovirus or unknown illnesses on cruise ships, including incidents on Cunard Cruise Line’s Queen Victoria and Holland American Line ships.
The CDC also reported several dozen cases of norovirus on a Silversea Cruises ship earlier this month. Norovirus outbreaks are common on cruise ships due to the close living quarters and shared dining areas, making them challenging to control.
Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread easily through person-to-person contact, food, water, or contaminated surfaces. It only takes a small amount of viral particles to make someone sick, according to Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert.
The CDC emphasizes the importance of proper hygiene and sanitation measures to prevent norovirus outbreaks, as they can cause significant illness and impact various settings, including cruise ships, nursing homes, schools, and other crowded environments. Please rewrite this sentence.
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