USA Today is reporting a large outbreak of a Norovirus on the Celebrity Cruise ship Mercury. 419 passengers became ill out of 1800 passengers (23%). The symptoms for the norovirus are vomiting and diarrhea for 1-2 days.
Disinfecting an area that has been contaminated with norovirus has been notoriously hard to do. In one study, enhanced hygiene techniques were used (handwashing, surface cleaning, using disposable paper towels, and using separate toilets for sick and well persons) reduced secondary cases by almost 85%. However, that still leaves some individuals becoming ill after extreme measures. And on a cruise ship, how many ill individuals would it take to infect the closed and confined quarters of a cruise ship? Hmmm.
On that note, this same ship is scheduled to leave port next week.
The outbreak isn’t expected to have an impact on next week’s cruise on the ship, Martinez says. “We have already begun extra cleaning, in an abundance of caution,” she says. “We do not expect a delay at turnaround.”
Bon voyage cruisers! And remember: