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2007-9-3 17:39:30 |
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A norovirus outbreak was reported to have affected more than 300 passengers and crew members aboard the world-famous Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) before the ocean liner docked in San Francisco Wednesday for a regularly scheduled stop, according to news reports. The ship started the latest around-the-world journey on Jan 8 from New York. The norovirus outbreak was believed to occur after it left Fort Lauderdale. Florida on Jan. 10. Health officials from the Centers fro Disease Control and Prevention got aboard the ship in Acapulco, Mexico to investigate the outbreak after the agency was reported that more than 300 passengers and crew members came down with suspected norovirus infection. Among the affected were 276 passengers of the 1,652 passengers or 17 percent and 28 crew members. The crew performed "enhanced sanitation" operations in response to the outbreak, according to Brian O'conner, the spokesman of Cunard Line, the owner of the ship. The predominant symptoms associated with the norovirus infection aboard the ship were diarrhea and vomiting, the CDC states on its website. By Wednesday, all the affected except three or four had recovered from the norovirus. The ship operator believed that a passenger form New York probably brought the virus aboard, causing the norovirus outbreak. Norovirus outbreaks occur from time to time aboard cruise ships. In 2006, a total of 34 outbreaks occurred aboard cruise ships, according to the CDC. A latest confirmed norovirus outbreak occurred last month aboard the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, infecting 338 passengers out of 3823. Norovirus is a group of viruses that cause stomach flu or gastroenteritis. People can get infected with this virus by eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus or touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their month. The transmission could also occur when one person touches another who is infected with the virus, according to the CDC. Within 24 to 48 or even as short as 12 hours after a norovirus infection, the infected person can show a series of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Symptoms can also include a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. No antiviral medications or vaccine are available to treat the stomach flu. The illness often go away one or two days after infection. Children and elderly people and those with weakened immune systems may experience dehydration; so they may consider drinking oral dehydration fluids (ORF), juice, or water to get hydrated again. Norovirus is highly contagious. It can spread from an infected person even before symptoms show up or days after symptoms disappear. The best way to prevent norovirus is to wash hands before eating anything that might be contaminated with norovirus. People should eat only carefully washed fruits and vegetables. Oysters should be steamed before consumption. For more information on cruising and norovirus, visit the following pages by the CDC. |
