Miami,
Florida,
United States
In a recent outbreak of norovirus on the Celebrity Cruises ship, Celebrity Summit, nearly 70 guests have fallen ill. The voyage, which took place from May 24 to May 31, 2024, saw 68 out of 2,264 passengers (3%) and 5 out of 943 crew members (0.53%) report symptoms of the gastrointestinal illness.
The predominant symptoms reported were diarrhea and vomiting, consistent with the effects of norovirus. The cruise line and crew have taken several actions in response to the outbreak. These include collecting stool specimens from those affected for testing, isolating ill passengers and crew, and consulting with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on comprehensive sanitation procedures.
These sanitation procedures include staged disembarkation for active cases to limit the opportunity of illness transmission to healthy guests, and sanitation of the terminal and transport infection control procedures. The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) is remotely monitoring the situation, including reviewing the ship's outbreak response and sanitation procedures.
It's important to note that the reported cases are totals for the entire voyage and do not imply that all people were sick at the same time. The term 'gastrointestinal illness' is commonly used for acute gastroenteritis (AGE), and cruise ships report cases that meet the case definition for AGE. This includes three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period or vomiting along with one of the following symptoms: diarrhea, muscle ache, headache, abdominal cramp, or fever.
Norovirus is very contagious and is easily transmitted from person to person most through the oral/fecal route. Considering that hand sanitizer does NOT work against this virus, it is important to wash your hands with soap frequently. Use bleach to clean and disinfect surfaces.
In case you experience Norovirus symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea, report it now. It can help to detect & resolve outbreaks early and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance. If symptoms persist, seek medical care
Source:
www.cdc.gov/vessel-sanitation/cruise-ship-outbreaks/celebrity-summit-may-2024.html
