Gastrointestinal Outbreak on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Sicks Over 90 Passengers and Crew
Outbreak Details
The Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, Radiance of the Seas, has been affected by a gastrointestinal illness that has sickened over 90 passengers and crew members.
Cruise Itinerary
The ship set sail from Tampa, Florida, on February 1 for a weeklong cruise and was expected to return on Saturday after making stops in Cozumel, Roatan Islands, Belize City, and Costa Maya.
Causes and Response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been made aware of the outbreak and is working to determine its cause. Norovirus is often the culprit behind gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships, and it can be identified through stool sample testing.
“In this outbreak, samples are pending confirmatory testing,” the CDC said in a press release.
Sanitation and Cleaning
To prevent the spread of the illness, the crew on the ship has increased cleaning and disinfection procedures. The CDC is remotely monitoring the situation, reviewing the ship’s outbreak response, and sanitation procedures.
There are 2,164 passengers and 910 crew members on board the ship. According to the CDC, 89 passengers and two crew members have fallen ill. Everyone who is sick has been isolated, and crew members are collecting stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases for testing.
Conclusion
The situation is being closely monitored by the CDC and Royal Caribbean, and passengers and crew are being taken care of to prevent the spread of the illness. It is unclear at this time if the outbreak has affected the ship’s itinerary.
FAQs
Q: What is the cause of the gastrointestinal illness?
A: The cause of the illness is not yet confirmed, but norovirus is often the culprit behind gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships.
Q: How many people have fallen ill?
A: According to the CDC, 89 passengers and two crew members have fallen ill.
Q: Has the outbreak affected the ship’s itinerary?
A: It is unclear at this time if the outbreak has affected the ship’s itinerary.
Q: How is the CDC responding to the outbreak?
A: The CDC is remotely monitoring the situation, reviewing the ship’s outbreak response, and sanitation procedures.
Q: What is being done to prevent the spread of the illness?
A: The crew on the ship has increased cleaning and disinfection procedures to prevent the spread of the illness.
