What cruisers need to know about the norovirus

[Jason]

What cruisers need to know about the norovirus[/size]

Spud Hilton, San Francisco Chronicle

Cruises, frankly, are an investment, even if the return isn't as quantifiable as with stocks and T-bills. With increased media focus on the industry, however, it seems there's a new crisis quarterly -- hurricane season, disappearing passengers, rogue waves, pirates -- and it's easy for investors, er, future passengers to get jittery.

As with any investment, the best way to protect it (or at least increase your odds of having it pay off) is education. Since the crisis this quarter is outbreaks of norovirus, it's probably time to bone up a little on what's being labeled as a "cruise ship illness," despite the fact that you're more likely to pick it up visiting Grandpa Bob at Happy Acres or Skippy in the dorms at Cal State U.

What follows are reliable resources on norovirus -- and how, if possible, to avoid it. (Note: Don't look to the cruise lines for help. In a search of the eight major companies' sites, the word "norovirus" could not be found.)

-- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) is the most reliable and unbiased source, although the Internet site can be difficult to navigate. For best results, plug the word "norovirus" and/or "cruise ship" into the search field and sift the results.

Among the most useful links are (apologies for the lengthy addresses): a fact sheet on noroviruses (www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/norovirus/norovirus.htm); a primer on how to wash your hands (www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/handwashing/handwashingtips.htm); and a list and summary of every major outbreak of illness on a cruise ship since 1994 (www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm). Note: Previous norovirus on a ship doesn't mean it's unsafe now, although three ships this year have had more than one outbreak.

Basic tips: Wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water; use alcohol-based sanitizer as necessary; get plenty of rest; and for the love of God, stop shaking hands. (Maybe it's best to take a page from the Japanese and bow your greetings.) At the risk of sounding like an apologist for the industry, the number of passengers who fell sick on ships with outbreaks during 2006 is about 4,100, a tiny fraction of the more than 10 million who cruised this year. For the 4,100, however, it was an expensive illness.

[JoeyandDavid]

Great information Thanks Jason....

[Suzila]

This was a good post...thanks Jason.

It amazes me how many times my husband shakes hands with people. We take our pups to the dog park every day and see our best friends there. Every single day the guys shake hands...good grief, it's like you haven't seen each other for years! Can't you just say hello?

Oprah did a thing on women washing their hands in the public restrooms. Some just run water over them, Some just wash the palms. You're supposed to soap up the entire hand, then they suggest singing Happy Birthday...that's if you don't know how long 20 seconds is. Most people do not wash their hands for 20 seconds.

I do a lot of hand washing myself. I have heavy duty medication I take for my Rheumatoid Arthritis...if I get sick I can land in the hospital. I carry the anti-bacterial in my purse for the times I can't get to a sink, and am very conscious about not touching my face during the day. So far, so good. Since I stopped working at the elementary school I have very few colds.

I remember seeing a news report where they said that Americans, in particular, have a very bad habit of using their hands for everything...eating food, especially. Chicken fingers, hamburgers, etc.

[KeithnRita]

Norovirus is just not on cruise ships.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/10547515/detail.html

[TheSkipper]

I would also suggest you take some Clorox wipes in a sealed plastic bag and as soon as you enter your stateroom wipe down everythiing you can reach including the TV remote, light switches, telephone handset, safe, door knobs, etc. While the room is clean it has not necessarly been disinfected. Been doing this for the last few years in addition to all the stuff already mentioned.