Is norovirus on cruise ships now?

Since January 2023, there have been 13 confirmed norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction — that's more outbreaks in six months than there have been during any full year since 2012, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



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There have already been an unlucky 13 recorded norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction so far in 2023. That's the highest tally in 10-years, ever since 16 such outbreaks occurred in 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program.

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P&O Cruises also reported an outbreak on its Arcadia cruise ship this year. The CDC's tally of norovirus outbreaks so far confirmed on cruise ships in 2023 is already higher than any annual outbreak tallies since 2012, when the health agency recorded 16 outbreaks.

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Based on the math, you have less chance of catching a gastrointestinal illness on a ship than at many places you're likely to visit on land. The CDC estimates only about 1% of all annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships.

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Top 3 Tips on How to Avoid Norovirus on a Cruise Ship
  1. Wash Your Hands Frequently. The most important thing that you can do to avoid Norovirus on a cruise ship is to wash and sanitize your hands as frequently as possible! ...
  2. Make Sure Food is Protected. ...
  3. Keep Your Immune System Strong.


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“The virus is often associated with cruise travel simply because health officials are required to track illnesses on ships,” Shah said. “The CDC estimates only about 1% of annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships.

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How Common is it to Get Sick on a Cruise? 15% of people have reported feeling seasick while onboard. In our experience we can add an other 10% of passengers that will suffer from other illness, such as colds, flu and hangovers.

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Royal Caribbean has cancelled a second Radiance of the Seas cruise due to continued propulsion issues and needed repairs. Royal Caribbean International has begun reaching out to guests booked on the September 8, 2023 departure of Radiance of the Seas with the news that the sailing has to be cancelled.

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More than 300 sickened on Ruby Princess cruise ship, CDC says. Hundreds of passengers and crew members fell ill while on board a Princess Cruises ship, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. In total, 284 of 2,881 passengers on the Ruby Princess reported being sick during the voyage between Feb.

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Studies have shown that quick application of hand sanitizers does not kill the norovirus. It takes about 30 seconds of hard rubbing with hot water and soap to kill it. The cause of most cruise line norovirus outbreaks is contaminated food or water. The way it spreads is through physical contact.

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Environments Where Norovirus Spreads Quickly Cruise ships in particular have many of the conditions that make people susceptible to norovirus—close quarters, enclosed spaces, communal dining, and high turnover of passengers.

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While the virus has garnered the nickname “cruise ship virus,” in reality, norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships account for only 1% of all reported norovirus outbreaks, the CDC says. In fact, acute gastrointestinal illness is fairly uncommon on cruise ships, the agency says.

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