Cruise Ships Causing Norovirus Outbreaks in Ports?
Norovirus is a serious virus that causes nausea, diarrhea and severe cramps. This disease, often associated with cruise ship sickness, has made resurgence in the last few weeks. This time it is affecting retirement/assisted living homes. The virus has turned up in several of these facilities in Florida and South Carolina.
Communities in and around Sarasota, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina have reported an increase in the activity of the virus in the community. Schools and work place absences have increased in the last few weeks. Now, the virus has entered the retirement community where it can cause severe damage to a weak immune system.
Health officials are tracking the progress of this virus to see if it is going to spread quickly through the country. Norovirus will either stop as quickly as it started or spread like wildfire. There is no distinct pattern to the virus at all.
The best way to avoid the virus is to wash your hands continually throughout the day. Soap and water are your best defense. Carry hand sanitizer with you for convenience, but remember soap and water is a better solution. Norovirus has been associated with death in the past. It is very important to use as many preventative measures as possible to avoid the risk of getting or spreading the virus.
Something really has to change. There have been far too many norovirus outbreaks already this year and even the biggest cruise lines in the industry seem unable to avoid the bug. They really need to look at how they can improve cleanliness. It is all very well have hand gel at the entrance to every eating venue on board but unless you enforce it's use, people won't bother. It needs stamping out quickly1
There is now a hand sanitizer and hard surface cleaner that has been proven to kill Norovirus. There is now enough information to show that alcohol based hand sanitizers do not work. The best protection you can have for yourself is to wash your handss regularly and use a different kind of hand sanitizer, like Q Shield. Having just returned from my first cruise, I share your concern, and am trying very hard to let the cruise industry know there is now an alternative to alcohol gels, which must also constitute a massive fire risk as well as not working on Norovirus. unfortunatly I just keep hitting brick walls, no one wants to listen, and no one in the cruise industry seems to be researching into this subject. I hope this helps, and I will keep trying.