Norovirus Outbreak Hits Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, Leaving Almost 200 Sick

A norovirus outbreak on a luxurious Cunard cruise ship left nearly 200 folks sick, inflicting signs like diarrhea and vomiting.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program launched particulars on Monday concerning the norovirus outbreak on the Queen Mary 2.

It stated about 183 of the two,538 passengers on board — about 7% — fell sick through the voyage. It additionally stated that 14 of the 1,232 crew members additionally reported being sick through the journey.

The ship departed England on March 8, in response to CruiseMapper, crusing first to New York earlier than persevering with to the japanese Caribbean, with stops in Barbados, St Lucia, and Grenada.

In an e-mail assertion to Enterprise Insider, a Cunard spokesperson stated a “small variety of visitors” reported signs of gastrointestinal sickness on the Queen Mary 2.

“We’re persevering with to intently monitor the visitors and, as a precaution, accomplished a complete deep clear of the ship and instantly activated our enhanced well being and security protocols, that are proving to be efficient,” they added.

The Queen Mary 2, Cunard’s flagship vessel, was the most important passenger ship ever constructed on the time of its building. It has 15 eating places and bars, 5 swimming swimming pools, a on line casino, and the first-ever planetarium at sea.

The ship regularly makes transatlantic crossings, with ticket costs beginning at round $1,400 per particular person, and luxurious duplex suites upwards of $35,000.

Though norovirus is usually known as the “cruise ship virus,” outbreaks on cruise ships solely account for about 1% of all reported circumstances within the US, in response to the CDC.

Extra frequent outbreak areas included healthcare amenities, eating places, and faculties.

It is an especially contagious virus, and is the main reason behind vomiting and diarrhea within the US. In line with the CDC, there are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks within the US every year.

Norovirus may be unfold via direct contact, consuming meals or consuming liquid contaminated with the virus, or touching contaminated surfaces.

The CDC stated that Cunard responded to the outbreak by growing cleansing and disinfection procedures, isolating sick passengers and crew, accumulating stool specimens for testing, and consulting with the Vessel Sanitation Program.

A number of days after Cunard reported the outbreak, a smaller norovirus outbreak was reported on a unique cruise ship.

In line with the CDC, 7 of the 461 passengers and 22 of the 405 crew members reported being sick throughout a voyage on the Seabourn Encore, which belongs to Seabourn Cruise Line.

Final week, BI reported on how passengers aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne had been suggested to take precautions because the vessel navigated a piracy-prone space in Southeast Asia throughout its maiden world voyage.

Passengers had been advised that promenade decks could be closed and solely important open-deck lights would stay on, to reduce the ship’s visibility, and that they need to hold their curtains drawn.

The Queen Anne is Cunard’s fourth luxurious cruise ship and might accommodate 2,996 visitors, along with 1,225 crew.