AllTop Viral!

With cruise ship “outbreaks” regularly appearing in the news, awareness of Norovirus — an extremely common and highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis — has been significantly raised.

But before you reconsider that long-awaited cruise vacation because of gloom-and-doom reports on television and in your daily paper, know these facts:

• Norovirus is not a “cruise ship” virus, nor does it limit itself to sea-going vessels.
• Norovirus spreads swiftly wherever there are many people in a small area, including nursing homes, restaurants, hotels, dormitories … and cruise ships.
• The common cold is the only illness more common, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta estimates that there are more than 20 million cases of Norovirus annually.
• Norovirus is associated with cruise travel simply because health officials are required to track illnesses on ships (and are not at hotels and resorts); therefore, outbreaks are found and reported more quickly at sea than on land.

Cruisecritic.com has a great Question and Answer series about Norovirus. Here’s a sampling of their page:

Question: What is Norovirus and how is it spread?
Answer: Norovirus is named after an outbreak that occurred in Norwalk, Ohio, some 35 years ago. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program, “Noroviruses are a group of viruses (previously known as Norwalk-like viruses) that can affect the stomach and intestines. These viruses can cause people to have gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and the large intestines. Gastroenteritis is sometimes called a calicivirus infection or food poisoning, even though it may not always be related to food.”

Though Norovirus can be passed via contaminated food and water, when it comes to cruise ships it is typically spread through physical contact with ill people or surfaces/objects they may have touched. This includes shaking hands, caring for a sick friend or family member, sharing food or eating from the same utensils, and not washing hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers (the highly transmittable fecal-oral spread).
Bottom line? For the most part, Norovirus outbreaks are the results of guests setting sail sick … and passing it around.

And:

Q: How long will it take me to recover?
A: Once you have been exposed to Norovirus, it takes anywhere from one to three days for its symptoms to appear; symptoms typically last only 24 to 48 hours but keep up the good hygiene — people may be contagious for as long as two weeks after recovery.

And:

Q: Why do I only hear about Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships?
A: It has been a particular problem of late for cruise ships because passengers and crew typically occupy close — and closed-in — quarters, such as casinos, theaters and banquet-style dining rooms. However, Norovirus has been known to close schools, attack college dormitories and even infect a Hollywood Academy Awards party.

Full story: CruiseCritic.

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