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

A norovirus outbreak on a luxurious Cunard cruise ship left virtually 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 mentioned about 183 of the two,538 passengers on board — about 7% — fell unwell throughout the voyage. It additionally mentioned that 14 of the 1,232 crew members additionally reported being sick throughout 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 mentioned a “small variety of friends” reported signs of gastrointestinal sickness on the Queen Mary 2.

“We’re persevering with to intently monitor the friends 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 development. It has 15 eating places and bars, 5 swimming swimming pools, a on line casino, and the first-ever planetarium at sea.

The ship ceaselessly 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 typically 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 widespread outbreak places included healthcare amenities, eating places, and faculties.

It is a particularly contagious virus, and is the main explanation for vomiting and diarrhea within the US. Based on the CDC, there are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks within the US annually.

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

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

Just a few days after Cunard reported the outbreak, a smaller norovirus outbreak was reported on a special cruise ship.

Based on the CDC, 7 of the 461 passengers and 22 of the 405 crew members reported being unwell 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 instructed that promenade decks can 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 may accommodate 2,996 friends, along with 1,225 crew.