Grand Princess cruise ship bound for Adelaide suffers dual COVID-19, gastroenteritis outbreaks

Table Of Content

• Is norovirus common on cruise ships?
• 'Some people fainted': Emotional parishioners return to Sydney church after stabbing
• Cruise liner bound for Adelaide suffers dual outbreaks of COVID and gastro
• Illness on cruises isn’t as common as it is on land
• Multiple gastro outbreaks across SA as data reveals rotavirus cases doubled in past year
• What’s the state of the cruise industry today?

News of the CDC's decision to remove its travel health notice was praised by the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's largest trade organization. On Friday, SA Health reported a total of 2,493 COVID-19 cases for the previous week — 793 cases more than the previous reporting period. "Speaking to other guests, it was quite common that the person they were travelling with was confined, or just come out of confinement, or sick," Ms Monk said.

Is norovirus common on cruise ships?

There have already been an unlucky 13 recorded norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction so far in 2023. That’s the highest tally in 10-years, ever since 16 such outbreaks occurred in 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program. And with half of 2023 still to go, there’s a good chance that the 2012 count will be surpassed sometime later this year.

'Some people fainted': Emotional parishioners return to Sydney church after stabbing

Princess Cruises said there was no current double outbreak on the ship, which had a capacity for 2,600 passengers and 1,150 crew members and was on a four day round trip from Adelaide to Melbourne. A spokesperson said the number of unwell guests with symptoms was in the “single digits”. VSP may also post information on gastrointestinal illness outbreaks of public health significance that do not necessarily meet the above criteria.

Cruise liner bound for Adelaide suffers dual outbreaks of COVID and gastro

Passengers who experience norovirus symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea should notify staff and follow recommended precautions, per the CDC. Because individual cruise lines determine their ships’ COVID-19-related requirements, your likelihood of catching coronavirus while at sea will depend on the specific ship’s guidelines and restrictions. Generally speaking, going on a cruise does pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The CDC has tracked outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships through its Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) since 1994. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 13 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships so far in 2023. The last time the industry's yearly gastrointestinal illness outbreak total was that high was back in 2016 — and it's only July. More than 90% of cruise ship gastro outbreaks are caused by norovirus, which is spread from person to person, and through contaminated objects or contaminated food or water. The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) requires cruise ships to log and report the number of passengers and crew who say they have symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.

Illness on cruises isn’t as common as it is on land

Health authorities say a dual outbreak of COVID-19 and gastroenteritis onboard a cruise liner is now over after it docked in Adelaide with only a handful of sick passengers. She said that the COVID-19 pandemic had, however, brought some positive changes to cruise ship health protocols, including better ventilation. However, Professor Bennett said risks were not confined to cruise ships, but can affect any settings where people mingle in close quarters. "I do think cruise ships are safer now than they were before the pandemic, and I hope the same is true for other dense population holiday areas." The New York Post reported that the Silversea outbreak was the fourth this year, including one that saw 130 people struck with diarrhea and vomiting and another that saw 104 passengers fall ill on a Holland America liner.

Multiple gastro outbreaks across SA as data reveals rotavirus cases doubled in past year

Historically, troop transport ships also helped to spread the lethal 1918 flu virus between continents. "[Outbreaks] are about as common as they are everywhere in the world on land, it's just that they tend to get reported more on ships," she said. Princess Cruises' website states that the safety of passengers is the company's top priority. Authorities say there were five cases of gastro on board the ship when it arrived in Adelaide this morning, and eight cases of "COVID-like infection". Chair in epidemiology at Deakin University Professor Catherine Bennett says cruising is like any other form of holiday, and people should think about the specific risks and what they could do to stay well. Epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett says there are many steps holiday-goers can take to minimise the risk of illness during their time off.

What’s the state of the cruise industry today?

Alaska breaks cruise ship passenger record as tourism rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic • Alaska Beacon - Alaska Beacon

Alaska breaks cruise ship passenger record as tourism rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic • Alaska Beacon.

Posted: Thu, 02 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Another company that just announced a change in testing requirements is upmarket cruise line Azamara. Effective July 25, 2022, it will no longer require pre-cruise testing, except in ports where the country requires it. “The easing of our testing policy marks a step in the right direction toward a return to normalcy for the travel and cruising industry,” Carol Cabezas, the president of Azamara, said in a statement. Travelers are urged to check their cruise ship's COVID case levels and vaccination requirements online before traveling, the agency says.

From personal experience, food tongs are handled by multiple people, some of whom may not have cleaned their hands. She said during outbreaks of illness, all staff including performers were required to help with sanitisation and cleaning roles. In a statement from its Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), the department said these viral infections could be serious, particularly for people who were at higher risk of severe illness. The Silver Nova, the cruise company's newest liner introduced in 2023, boasts butler service for each suite and a ratio of one crew member for every 1.3 guests. It comes amid a new Covid wave in Australia, with 2,493 cases confirmed in South Australia on Friday following 1,700 confirmed cases the previous week.

There were already three outbreaks by February 3 of this year, seven that crossed the month of March, and two in May. June had one as well, affected a Viking Cruises ship that traveled from June 6 to June 20. This outbreak left 110 of 838 (13.1%) passengers and nine of 455 (1.98%) crew members sick in a bad way.

It only takes a small number of virus particles for norovirus to spread, which is why norovirus causes so many explosive outbreaks, Ko previously told TODAY.com. Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread directly through sick people and contaminated surfaces, food, or drinks. Those who became ill were more likely than those who did not to think that hand hygiene and isolation were not effective in preventing infection transmission, and were less likely to wash their hands after using the toilet. Given fecal contamination is a major source of norovirus transmission, this is concerning.

At least 28 passengers and one crew member among the Silver Nova's 633 passengers fell ill during their 16-day Easter-themed cruise that set sail in Callao, Peru, the agency said. Anne, who cancelled her cruise trip due to injuries, told ABC Radio Adelaide her friends have been sick with both COVID-19 and norovirus on board the Grand Princess, and have been quarantined in their cabins for most of their holiday. Most vessels have received scores in the high 90s — only one cruise ship, the MSC Seaside, has failed the CDC's sanitation inspection so far this year. The vessel received an unusually low score of 67, nearly 20 points below the agency's passing grade.

"The risk is higher on-board cruise ships than in the general community due to the high numbers of people mixing in relatively closed spaces, and the typically longer duration of cruises compared to other transport," the statement said. She said there were steps people could take to reduce their risk of contracting infections while on board cruise ships. Despite the dual illnesses, health authorities declared the outbreak over when the cruise liner docked, while only a handful of passengers, on a ship that can hold 4,000, became ill. Workers aboard the ship aim to show guests "outstanding gastronomy," according to the Silversea website. At the end of last year, "Top Chef's" Nina Compton joined its staff, and offered personal cooking lessons to passengers. Maureen Monk, a passenger aboard the ship, told ABC passengers started reporting feeling unwell on the second day of the cruise.

Whether they’re booking scenic American river cruises or gathering the little ones for a cruise with kids across the ocean, travelers are making the most of the reasonable rates. “We have also seen a surge in bookings, with June showing our highest booking levels for Alaska cruises since early 2020,” she says. Exposure to less than 100 norovirus particles can make someone sick, and infected people typically shed billions of particles, according to the CDC. Norovirus can also get into food before, during or after preparation, and it's the top germ causing foodborne illness in the U.S., per the CDC.

"The ship docked in Melbourne on Saturday to undergo a clean, with all passengers off while this was undertaken," SA Health said. SA Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said there were five cases of gastro on board the ship when it arrived, and eight cases of "COVID-like infection". The cruise operator said there is no current "dual outbreak" of illness on the ship. An MSC Cruises representative told Insider at the time that the cruise line had launched an internal investigation based on the inspector's concerns and taken immediate corrective actions. “Since returning to service a year ago, we have seen record guest satisfaction scores.