The norovirus is an extremely transmissible stomach virus that has the possibility for an individual who is ill to contaminate other people. This danger exists starting from the instant they get sick, to a minimum of 3 days after they get well.
Disturbingly enough, a few victims continue to be contagious for at least 14 days following convalescence. This is perhaps the reason why successive cruises bring about infection. There have been reports that norovirus patients are bedridden for extremely long periods of time.
Cruise Ships have a History of Carrying the Norovirus
Although norovirus infections are by no means circumscribed to cruise liners only, the nature of a cruise increases the likeliness of a disease overspreading drastically. There is also a potential for closed residential areas like retirement homes to harvest the norovirus.
This 'cruise ship virus' can be passed around through fouled food and beverages. This is especially alarming when the crew members who serve up or cook the food get sick.
Passengers can contract the norovirus by coming into contact with contaminated areas like banisters, fences and mirrors. As a suspected norovirus outbreak comes about on a cruise liner, the crew will spray antimicrobials on all vulnerable surfaces, and affected passengers are told to stay inside the safety of their staterooms.
Sick passengers and workers have short-term symptoms of nausea, emesis and diarrhea. Some also complain of having stomach problems, cephalalgias, low grade fevers, and quivers. A 21 year old vacationer actually passed away 2 days after stepping down from his cruise liner, and the causal agent in his death was cited to be a ramification of norovirus transmission.
Norovirus Outbreaks are Menacing
This is not the usual case however. Norovirus outbreaks are typically not substantial medical risks, though they are highly obnoxious for both passengers and cruise liner companies. For passengers, what is normally anticipated to be a noteworthy vacation ultimately turns into a retching and miserable incubation far into the ocean.
For cruise liners with increased holding capacities, a norovirus outbreak can be a massive public relations disaster. In the past few years, world news reports and TV agencies have reported on cruise ship breakouts that resulted in hundreds of passengers suffering from various gastrointestinal diseases.
The majority of these illnesses were due to very strong gastrointestinal viruses that can be very difficult, but not impossible, to cure.
The norovirus is diagnosed by detecting the RNA of the virus in stools of the victims by using a specific type of instrumentation called polymerase chain reaction. There are other methods used in the diagnosis of the norovirus, and these include: electron microscopy and serologic assays.
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References:
CDC
E-Medicine
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