More than 100 cruise passengers sickened by norovirus in 21st outbreak this year: CDC

KANIKA SINGH RATHORE,

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More than 100 guests and crew members reported sick norovirus Outbreak on globe-hopping cruise ship, CDC has announcedThe outbreak is the 21st outbreak of gastrointestinal disease on a cruise ship monitored by the agency this year.

AIDA Cruises CDC alerted about outbreak on board AIAdiva on Nov. 30, the agency said.

outbreak According to the CDC, 95 of the 2,007 passengers and 6 of the 640 staff members on board the ship were affected.

they mainly suffered symptoms, The journey, involving diarrhea and vomiting, began on 10 November and is scheduled to last until 16 December.

in response to outbreakThe cruise operator stepped up cleaning and disinfection procedures, isolated sick passengers and crew, consulted with CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program and collected stool samples for testing, the agency said.

The outbreak occurred on a cruise ship that departed from Hamburg, Germany last month, infecting more than 100 people

The outbreak occurred on a cruise ship that departed from Hamburg, Germany last month, infecting more than 100 people ,getty images,

“Seasonal disease peaks between November and April and the AIDA report reflects patterns of infection on land,” AIDA told People. ,So, we have added more hygiene protocols onboard, and the cases are already going down.”

Independent AIDA has been contacted for further comment.

AIAdiva is midway through a 133-day cruise, which began in Hamburg, Germany, and planned stops throughout North America, according to cruisemapperAccording to the site, the ship is currently in Costa Rica,

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The outbreak is the 21st such incident on a CDC-regulated cruise ship this year. All but five of those incidents were caused by norovirus.

There have been more outbreaks this year than in 2024, when there were 18, and 2023, when there were 14.

Cruise ships are often associated with norovirus outbreaks, but only a small fraction of such incidents occur on ships. Instead, onboard cases typically track seasonal spikes in norovirus on land.

Cruise ships are often associated with norovirus outbreaks, but only a small fraction of such incidents occur on ships. Instead, onboard cases typically track seasonal spikes in norovirus on land. ,getty images,

Officials said it is not clear what is driving this trend.

“Although the number of recent cruise ship outbreaks has been higher than in years prior to the pandemic, we do not yet know whether this represents a new trend,” the CDC said. told USA Today In April. “However, CDC data suggests that a new dominant strain is currently associated with norovirus outbreaks reported on land. Ships generally follow the pattern of land-based outbreaks, which are higher this norovirus season.”

According to the CDC, norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the US.

The disease causes acute gastroenteritis, inflammation of the stomach or intestines.

Washing food and hands thoroughly can help prevent the spread of norovirus

Washing food and hands thoroughly can help prevent the spread of norovirus ,getty images,

Most people with norovirus usually recover within 1 to 3 days, but may still be contagious.

The disease can spread through the air or through contact with contaminated surfaces.

Regular hand washing and thorough cooking and cleaning of produce and shellfish can help prevent people from becoming infected with the virus, as well as regularly disinfecting surfaces.

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