A norovirus outbreak aboard a luxurious cruise ship has left over 224 passengers and 17 crew members ailing, based on the Facilities for Illness Management.
The affected voyage was a luxurious Cunard Line ship touring from Southampton, England, via New York and the Caribbean earlier than returning to the UK, based on CruiseMapper.
The ship, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, is scheduled to journey on this route for almost a month, having departed on March 8 and set to return on April 6.
The sweeping norovirus outbreak was reported to the CDC on March 18, based on the company.
In response to the outbreak, the ship and crew elevated cleansing and disinfection procedures, collected stool specimens for testing and remoted individuals who had fallen ailing, the CDC mentioned.
Norovirus is a really contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea and is usually known as the “abdomen flu” or the “abdomen bug,” based on the CDC.
It’s the main explanation for foodborne sickness in the US. Different signs could embody abdomen ache, fever, headache, physique aches or dehydration, based on the CDC.
The virus can be fairly frequent, particularly on ships. There have been 12 GI outbreaks on cruise ships in 2025, to date, based on the CDC.
In keeping with the federal well being company, yearly the norovirus causes between 19 and 21 million sicknesses, 109,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths.
An individual can grow to be contaminated by having direct contact with somebody who’s contaminated and sharing meals or utensils with them; touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus after which touching their face or mouth; or consuming contaminated meals or liquids.
Sometimes, an contaminated particular person will develop signs between 12 to 48 hours after being contaminated. Nevertheless, norovirus usually resolves shortly and, in most wholesome adults, lasts one to 3 days, based on the CDC.
There isn’t any particular remedy or antiviral for norovirus, that means the one remedy out there is managing signs.
The CDC recommends staying hydrated and ingesting liquids that replenish electrolytes, which may be depleted via diarrhea and vomiting.
Washing palms with cleaning soap and water for no less than 20 seconds is without doubt one of the finest methods to stop unfold. To forestall contamination from meals, be certain vegatables and fruits are washed, and that shellfish is cooked to no less than an inner temperature of 145 F.
ABC Information has reached out to Cunard Line for a remark.