Over 140 People On Royal Caribbean Cruise Sickened By Stomach Bug Outbreak

Over 140 passengers and unit members aboard a Royal Caribbean International cruise vessel were sickened by a gastrointestinal unwellness that led to vomiting and diarrhea, according to nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The outbreak happened connected nan Navigator of nan Seas vessel during its July 4 to 11 voyage, nan CDC said. The vessel sailed from Los Angeles to a fewer stops successful Mexico, including Cabo San Lucas, and backmost again, according to Gangwaze, which tracks cruise routes.

The outbreak was reported to nan CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) — which useful to forestall and power nan dispersed of gastrointestinal illnesses connected cruise ships — connected July 11. Cruise ships are required to study specified outbreaks to nan CDC.

According to nan CDC, 134 retired of 3,914 passengers onboard reported being sick during nan journey, while 7 retired of 1,266 unit members reported being ill. Their predominant symptoms were diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

Following nan outbreak, nan unit aboard nan Navigator of nan Seas accrued cleaning and disinfection procedures aboard nan ship, collected stool specimen from group who reported emotion sick and isolated those who reported emotion ill, nan CDC said.

The origin of nan dispersed of nan gastrointestinal unwellness is not known astatine this time, according to nan CDC.

"Norovirus is often a origin of gastrointestinal unwellness outbreaks connected cruise ships, but we don’t ever cognize nan origin of nan outbreak erstwhile we statesman an investigation," nan CDC said successful a report on nan outbreak. "Finding nan supplier that caused an outbreak (causative agent) tin return time."

People pinch gastrointestinal unwellness are asked to springiness stool aliases vomit samples, which are past tested to find nan cause, nan CDC said.

Anyone tin statement Norovirus, which is contagious and tin origin vomiting, diarrhea, fever and assemblage aches, according to nan CDC. Ingesting contaminated nutrient aliases liquids, having interaction pinch personification who has nan microorganism and rubbing contaminated objects tin origin group to interaction it.

Most group pinch Norovirus get amended successful 1 to 3 days, but tin still dispersed nan microorganism 2 weeks aliases much afterwards, according to nan CDC.

People tin debar contracting Norovirus by washing their hands, and washing fruits, vegetables and cooking shellfish thoroughly earlier consumption, nan CDC advises. Once sick pinch nan virus, it is champion to enactment isolated for 2 days aft symptoms stop.

Samples collected from nan Navigator of nan Seas outbreak are still pending confirmatory testing, according to nan CDC.

Royal Caribbean International did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.