Island Princess reports Norwalk Virus 6/2/2004

Received this email today:

On Wednesday, June 2, 350 passengers and crew out of 2,914 passengers
and crew aboard the Island Princess fell ill with a Norwalk-like virus.
The vessel was sailing from Vancouver, B.C. to Whittier, AK.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta is
investigating.

[Marilyn]

thats not good news.BUT as a reminder... wash, wash ,wash, your hands, and carry some antibacterial soap. I never travel without dial hand sanitizer purse size, a few of them for the cruise and the flights as well as public places can go a long way to reduce infection.

Will any cruises on the Island be cancelled?

[Pamela]

I sail out on the Island this Saturday. I fly out in 8 hours. This isn't good news!!!!

[LisaK]

Pamela, not to worry. Be assured that the ship has been scrubbed, sanitized and disinfected. The virus had to come aboard. Use hand sanitizers.

[GD]

That is what upsets me, you know how in the buffet, they have those sanitizers? Well, I watched people walk right in without using it. THOSE are the folks that spread things. I carried around a bottle of hand sanitizer in my pocket, everywhere I went and used it quite often. I suggest you do the same. Especially if you have children!

I always try to limit how much I touch the things that everyone else has their hands on, such as handrails, door handles, serving spoons in the buffet (take extra silver going in and serve it with your spoons). If you are careful, you can avoid getting sick.

[RSP]

from the newswires....


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Nearly 350 passengers and crew aboard a Princess Cruises ship in southeast Alaska fell ill with a virus this week, cruise line officials said.



As of Wednesday, 308 passengers and 40 crew members aboard the Island Princess complained of Norwalk virus-like symptoms. Altogether, 2,018 passengers and 896 crew members were making the weeklong voyage from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Whittier.


The vessel was in Skagway Wednesday and will probably continue on schedule, said Dean Brown, CEO of Princess Tours Division, which oversees Alaska operations. He said ill passengers and crews were recovering in isolated rooms.


Onboard testing confirmed the presence of the norovirus — which includes Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses. The virus can cause diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting for 24 to 48 hours. It is spread through food and water and close contact with infected people or the items they have touched.


Brown said the source of the outbreak hasn't been determined.


The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta is investigating.


___

[CruiseAholic]

And 99.999 % of it could be prevented if 1) hands were washed after restroom visits and 2) people just wouldn't travel if they are ill.

Amazing how anyone can blame a cruise line for something that the passengers themselves cause.

[Pamela]

I just got off of the Island Princess yesterday. We were 9 hours late getting on the ship due to the CDC cleaning the ship. We got a letter Sunday that stated they were taking every precaution imaginable to stop the virus. However, on Tuesday we got another letter that stated there was indeed another breakout of the virus and that we should only use the bathroom in our cabin. You would see the cleaning crew walking around in their yellow "moonwalker" uniforms and there would also be a note on the cabin door for the steward not to enter the room. I did not get the virus as I was very careful about what I touched. I feel assured that Princess is doing everything possible to eliminate the problem.

[Franknca]

Where did they have you wait those 9 hours? What happened with your luggage? Sounds like a bummer but at least you got to cruise and didn't get sick. Good advice to keep washing your hands and to use your cabin bathroom.
Frank-in-CA

[Pamela]

Well, 4 of the 9 hours were on a bus. The other 5 we spent in Anchorage. It wasn't as bad as it sounds. Just a very long, tiring day. Our luggage was in our room when we got there.