How Does Norovirus Spread On Cruise Ships

Norovirus is caught by having contact with an infected person either directly or by touching contaminated surfaces.

How does norovirus spread on cruise ships. Norovirus is acute gastroenteritis which generates symptoms such as vomiting diarrhea and stomach pain. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed acute gastroenteritis. Though Norovirus can be passed via contaminated food and water when it comes to cruise ships it is typically spread through physical contact with.

Even if a cruise ship enforces perfect hygiene norovirus can still spread from an infected persons respiratory system. Identification of a Predominant Circulating Strain of NorovirusUnited States 2002 By Eric Mintz State of the art. The constant influx of new passengers adds to the equation with potential for a norovirus outbreak a possibility if even one person is infected.

Answer 1 of 9. Cruise ships host several thousand people for days and weeks on end all sharing facilities eating at the same venues touching surfaces and associating closely with each other. Noro is every bit as common as the common cold.

Death rates for cruise ship passengers most often from cardiovascular events range from 06 to 98 deaths per million passenger-nights. Norovirus is spread from person to person through food or water that is contaminated with the virus as well as touching contaminated surfaces. Norovirus outbreaks can occur on cruise ships when people bring the virus on to the ship and pass it on to others.

About 1 in 5 cases of acute gastroenteritis which leads to diarrhea and vomiting is caused by norovirus. The most frequently reported cruise ship outbreaks involve respiratory infections GI infections such as norovirus and vaccine-preventable diseases other than influenza such as varicella chickenpox. It spreads in locations where people are congregated into enclosed spaces nursing homes hospitals daycares and schools hotels dormitoriesand yes cruise ships.

You can get norovirus from an infected person from contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces. Incorrectly Called the Cruise Ship Disease. Menu icon A vertical stack.