Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships on the decline

[mercedes]

Worried about catching a stomach bug on your next cruise? Here's the good news: Outbreaks of norovirus and other gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships are on the decline.

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta recorded just 15 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships in 2008, down from 21 in 2007 and 34 in 2006.

The decline, moreover, came even as the number of people cruising continued to rise. The Cruise Lines International Association says the industry carried 13.2 million passengers in 2008, up from 12.6 million in 2007 and 12.0 million in 2006.

Cruise ships arriving in U.S. ports must report all cases of gastrointestinal illness treated by on-board medical staff to the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program division, and a separate notification is required when the number of cases exceeds 2% of passengers and crew. When the number of cases exceeds 3% of passengers and crew the CDC issues a public report.

An analysis of the public reports, as in past years, almost all of the 2008 outbreaks -- 13 out of 15 -- were due to norovirus. There also was one outbreak of E. coli, on the Pacific Princess in January of 2008, and one outbreak that was the result of both norovirus and E. coli (on the Norwegian Dream in April).

Of the 15 outbreaks in 2008, six were on ships operated by Holland America -- a line that has had a disproportionate share of the industry's gastrointestinal illness outbreaks for several years. Only two other lines had more than one outbreak: Norwegian Cruise Line (4) and Princess Cruises (2). Three other lines -- Carnival, Regent Seven Seas and American Canadian Caribbean Line -- each had a single outbreak.

Holland America also led the industry in gastrointestinal illness events in 2007 with five outbreaks (tying with NCL) and in 2006 with seven outbreaks, according to the CDC data.

Notably, there were a number of major lines in 2008 -- including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Disney and Cunard -- that did not have a single recorded outbreak.

So far in 2009 the CDC has recorded two gastrointestinal outbreaks on ships, on the Celebrity Mercury (Jan. 3-17) and the Holland America Maasdam (Jan. 2-9).

Sometimes called the "24-hour flu," norovirus is the most common cause of stomach illness in the United States, accounting for around half of all cases, according to the CDC. It breaks out regularly in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, offices and other places people congregate.

[JoeyandDavid]

interesting article... i wonder of the outbreaks that happened did they appear at any particular time of the year more so than any other...

[deb1220]

interesting article... i wonder of the outbreaks that happened did they appear at any particular time of the year more so than any other...

Good question! I'm glad to hear it's on the decline. Thanks for the article Carmen!

[Sunbeam]

I am also glad to hear about it. I was on a cruise on March 2006 (Mercury - Celebrity - 11 nights). It was no fun.

[rogue]

Another article I read recently said that if you look at the percent of passengers who actually came down with norovirus last year, it was well below the national average. As a matter of fact (or at least what the article said), in the last 5 or 6 years, the percentage was below the national average. The worst years of norovirus outbreaks is actually just about the same percent as people who are not on cruises.