Talking Points – Norovirus and Cruising (December 20, 2017)
Talking Points – Norovirus and Cruising
Copyright © 2017 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.
The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and customers when talking about norovirus and cruising. (Updated December 20, 2017)
1. You’re much more likely to catch the “stomach flu” during normal daily activity than you are on a cruise ship.
2. Cruising remains an extremely safe and healthy vacation option with the well-being of guests and crew being one of the cruise industry’s highest priorities.
3. Cruise passengers can take simple preventative measures to help decrease the risk of becoming infected with norovirus.
Below you will find additional information, supporting material, and statistics supporting each talking point.
1. You’re much more likely to catch the “stomach flu” during normal daily activity than you are on a cruise ship.
Norovirus is a very common illness in the United States and is sometimes also called viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu, and/or food poisoning, but is not related to influenza.
o Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and possible stomach cramping. Those with the virus may also experience a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and tiredness.
o There is no vaccine to prevent norovirus.
o Most people get better within one to three days.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 20 million Americans contract norovirus every year during normal activity, and globally there are 685 million cases annually, most in developing countries. Noroviruses can be found in hospitals, day care centers, nursing homes, dormitories and schools, in addition to cruise ships.
o Most outbreaks of norovirus illness happen when infected people spread the virus to others. But, norovirus can also spread by consuming contaminated food or water and touching things that have the virus on them.
o Norovirus is the leading cause of illness and outbreaks from contaminated food in the United States. About 50% of all outbreaks of food-related illness are caused by norovirus. Food can get contaminated with norovirus at any point when it is being grown, shipped, handled, or prepared.
o Over half of all norovirus outbreaks reported in the United States occur in long-term care facilities.
o Infected food workers are frequently the source of these outbreaks, often by touching ready-to-eat foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables, with their bare hands before serving them.
o People joining a cruise ship may bring the virus to other passengers and crew.
The American Medical Association (AMA) concluded: “Perceptions that cruise ships can be luxury breeding grounds for acute gastroenteritis outbreaks don’t hold water. A recent
CDC report showed that from 2008 to 2014, only 0.18% of more than 73 million cruise passengers and 0.15% of some 28 million crew members reported symptoms of the illness.”
o The CDC says that the virus is closely associated with cruise ships only because health official closely track the illness on cruise ships and thus they are reported more quickly than those that occur on land.
o Because cruise ships are closely monitored and regularly inspected for health and sanitation concerns, they are likely fewer occurrences than at land restaurants.
o Fortune magazine, analyzing CDC data, reported that only one out of every 14,000 or so cruise passengers will get sick due to the norovirus during a cruise. It said “a high school basketball player has a far higher chance (0.03%) of eventually being drafted into the NBA.”
Norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year. But, according to the CDC, over 80% of the outbreaks occur from November to April. Half of all cases occur from December through February in countries above the equator.
As of December 20, 2017, the CDC has only confirmed 10 norovirus/gastrointestinal illnesses in 2017, involving nine ships from five cruise lines. Those outbreaks were aboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas (December 11-16); Ovation of the Seas (Movember 23 – December 7); Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection (November 17-27), Holland America’s Noordam (July 30 – August 6); Nieuw Amsterdam (July 22-29); Noordam (July 23-30); Volendam (July 19-26), Volendam (July 12-19); and Ocean Cruises’ Regatta (March 29 – April 14); Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess (March 8-18).
In 2016, the CDC confirmed just 11 outbreaks of norovirus aboard cruise ships, down from 12 in 2015.
o The CDC posts cruise ship outbreaks when they meet the following criteria:
Fall within the purview of the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP);
Are sailing on voyages from 3-21 days;
Are carrying 100 or more passengers; and
Are cruise ships in which 3 percent or more of passengers or crew reported symptoms of diarrheal disease to the ships medical staff during the voyage.
2. Cruising remains an extremely safe and healthy vacation option with the well-being of guests and crew being one of the cruise industry’s highest priorities.
The public hears about norovirus outbreaks on ships not because they happen more frequently, but because unlike other segments of the travel and hospitality industry, cruise ships carrying 13 or more passengers which have a foreign itinerary with U.S. ports are required to participate in the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program. Cruise ship medical staff or other designated personnel are required to maintain a log of cases of gastrointestinal illnesses and report those to the CDC.
o Currently, state, local, and territorial health departments are not required to report individual cases of norovirus illness to a national surveillance system.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) each member cruise line has an outbreak prevention and response plan to address gastrointestinal illnesses which includes: Extensive cleaning and disinfecting of all staterooms and public areas
on a daily basis including counters, bathroom surfaces, door handles, railings and grab bars, exercise equipment, video arcade equipment, vanities, TV remote controls and more.
o Extensive onboard communications to encourage passengers to thoroughly wash their hands frequently to help avoid unknowingly spreading the virus.
o The elimination of all self-serve buffets (passengers point to the food they would like and staff will serve them).
o Extra crew may be brought on board to disinfect the ship with the CDC-recommended disinfectants from top to bottom before additional passengers board on turnaround days.
o All crew who have norovirus symptoms may be confined to their quarters or transferred off the ship.
3. Cruise passengers can take simple preventative measures to help decrease the risk of becoming infected with norovirus.
Frequently wash hands with soap and warm water; it’s one of the best preventative measures one can take.
Take advantage of the hand-sanitizer stations located throughout the ship, particularly those located at the entrances of dining areas.
Drink lots of water and get plenty of rest. Resting helps rebuild your immune system. Drinking water helps prevents dehydration.
Be considerate of other people’s health. We urge our clients who may feel ill before their cruise to contact us to learn what their alternative cruising options may be.
Anyone seeking additional information on norovirus and proper hand-washing techniques can visit specific CDC (www.cdc.gov) or CLIA (www.cruising.org) website resources:
o The Vessel Sanitation Program’s website at www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp
o Updates about the norovirus at www.cdc.gov/norovirus
o Industry facts about health and wellness onboard cruise lines at www.cruising.org/cruise-vacationer/industry-facts/health
o Obtain the truth about norovirus on cruise ships at www.cruising.org/cruise-vacationer/industry-facts/norovirus-on-cruise-ships