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Norovirus Outbreak on Holland America Cruise Sickens Over 60 People
1 year ago •source cdc.gov • business
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In a recent outbreak on the Holland America Line's Zuiderdam cruise, more than 60 people have fallen ill due to norovirus. The voyage, which took place from December 4 to December 14, 2024, has seen a significant number of passengers and crew members reporting symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.The outbreak was reported to the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) on December 11, 2024. Out of the 1,923 passengers onboard, 74 reported being ill, which accounts for 3.85% of the total passengers. Additionally, 4 out of 757 crew members, or 0.5%, also reported being ill. The predominant symptoms among the affected individuals were diarrhea and vomiting, which are consistent with norovirus infection.
The outbreak was discovered when passengers and crew members began reporting their symptoms to the medical center onboard. The reporting of these symptoms is crucial in detecting gastrointestinal illness outbreaks swiftly, allowing for immediate steps to be taken to limit the spread of the illness. In response to the outbreak, Holland America Line and the crew aboard the ship increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, collected stool specimens from the ill for testing, and isolated the affected passengers and crew. The VSP is currently conducting a field response for an environmental assessment and outbreak investigation to assist the ship in controlling the outbreak.
It is 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 swift response and actions taken by the Holland America Line and the crew aboard the ship have been crucial in managing the outbreak and preventing the further spread of the illness.
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