Gastrointestinal Outbreak on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Sickens More than 90 Passengers and Crew
Outbreak Details
A gastrointestinal illness has affected more than 90 passengers and crew members on a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship that set sail from Tampa, Florida, on February 1 for a weeklong cruise. The ship, Radiance of the Seas, was expected to return on Saturday after making stops in Cozumel, Roatan Islands, Belize City, and Costa Maya.
Symptoms and Containment
The outbreak caused vomiting and diarrhea among the affected passengers and crew. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified of the outbreak on Tuesday, halfway through the ship’s journey. Everyone who is sick has been isolated, and crew members are collecting “stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases for testing.”
Causes and Testing
Norovirus is often the cause of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships, the CDC said, and can be identified from a stool sample. In this outbreak, samples are pending confirmatory testing. The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program is remotely monitoring the situation, including reviewing the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.
Increased Cleaning and Disinfection
To keep the sickness from spreading, the crew on the ship increased cleaning and disinfection procedures. The CDC recommended that the ship take these measures to contain the outbreak.
Number of Affected
There are 2,164 passengers and 910 crew members on the ship. According to the CDC, 89 passengers and two crew members fell ill.
Conclusion
The outbreak on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining proper sanitation and hygiene procedures on cruise ships to prevent the spread of illnesses.
FAQs
Q: How many passengers and crew members were affected by the outbreak?
A: More than 90 passengers and crew members were affected by the outbreak.
Q: What were the symptoms of the illness?
A: The symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea.
Q: What is being done to contain the outbreak?
A: The crew on the ship increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, and the CDC is remotely monitoring the situation.
Q: What is the cause of the outbreak?
A: The cause of the outbreak is still pending confirmatory testing, but norovirus is often the cause of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships.
Q: Will the outbreak affect the itinerary of the ship?
A: It is unclear if the outbreak affected the itinerary of the ship.
