What is the mysterious illness on the Galveston cruise ship?
Princess Cruises said the illness outbreak is likely Norovirus. According to CDC data, 12.7% of passengers and crew on board were reportedly sick on the cruise ship. Kim Holt and her family were among the 4,000 people on board that ship.
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Onboard the Feb. 26 sailing of Ruby Princess, there was a number of cases of mild gastrointestinal illness among passengers, the cause likely is the common but contagious virus called Norovirus.
NorovirusNorovirus — marked by diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain — is to blame for more than 90 percent of diarrheal disease outbreaks on cruises, according to the CDC.
Twenty-five crew members and 152 of the 2,144 passengers onboard the May 15 to May 25, 2023 voyage of the Celebrity Summit reported norovirus symptoms, according to a notice issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mal de debarquement syndrome (or Syndrome du mal de débarquement, MdDS, or common name disembarkment syndrome) is a neurological condition usually occurring after a cruise, aircraft flight, or other sustained motion event. The phrase mal de débarquement is French and translates to illness of disembarkment.
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.
“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.
One tip for first-time cruise anxiety: don't go alone. It may be a good idea to vacation with a friend or loved one. If you are looking forward to some peace and quiet but don't want to look awkward and lonely, consider pre-booking shore excursions and tours.
Or maybe it's norovirus, a contagious virus that often keeps you at the toilet for several days. Some people know it as the “cruise ship virus” because it's often the cause of over 90% of diarrhea outbreaks on cruise ships, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The short answer: Drink water and go see a doctor. If you experience symptoms of a UTI at sea, respond first by drinking plenty of water. Increasing your urinary flow can slow the progression of a UTI, which is especially important if you do not have immediate access to professional medical care.
One of the biggest misconceptions about cruise ships is that they're germ incubators—that you can't escape. But the likelihood of catching a stomach bug on a seven-day voyage is less than 1 percent—which is about a third the risk of getting infected in your day-to-day life back home, says Dr.