Source:  www.cruisejunkie.com

Illness Outbreaks on Cruise Ships

2008




2006
Box Score
2007
Box Score
2008
Box Score
Illness:
# of
reports
Pax
Sick
Crew
Sick
Total
Sick
# of
reports
Pax
Sick
Crew
Sick
Total
Sick
# of
reports
Pax
Sick
Crew
Sick
Total
Sick
Gastrointestinal
(including Noro virus)
53
6081
617
6698
33
3857
302
4159
12
1234
111
1345
E coli
1
86
31
117




2
149
16
165
Salmonella












Shigella












Other




1
7

7
1
7

7
Total
54
6167
648
6815
34
3864
302
4166
15
1390
127
1517
NOTE: Box Score includes outbreaks confirmed by the CDC or those reported by multiple sources with reliable numbers.  Estimates given by passengers are generally not included in the table.

Summary of Illness Outbreaks, 2002 - 2007
(Click on Year for More Detail)

Year
# of Reports
Total Sick
2002
43
3530
2003
44
3556
2004
42
3675
2005
35
4674
2006
54
6815
2007
33
4166



Find out which ships are the sickest
---
  INVALUABLE RESOURCE ON NOROVIRUS ON CRUISE SHIPS



2008

Date
Ship
Cruise Line
Event
Source
June 22
Veendam
Holland America Line
The Anchorage Daily News reports that an unnamed Holland America ship has had an elevated number of illnesses. It states that rumors about a norovirus outbreak followed the ship from port to port, prompting media inquiries. The ship had about 20 sick passengers early in its cruise when it was in Haines. It went to Juneau and Sitka before pulling into Seward (the end of a seven-day cruise). According to one source, the ship has been in Code Red due to the Norwalk Virius since last Thursday. The Veendam is doing Alaska (Vancouver to Seward 7 days, and Seward to Vancouver 7 days). Guests sailing for 14 days were all placed in quarintine for 24 hours last Friday after being plied with free tours in Seward since extra crew were flown in to clean the ship. All staff were present in the Lido restaurant to help serve guests. No salt and pepper shakers, no self serve coffee stations and activities cancelled. Over 100 guests were sick and approximately 20 crew affected. The outbreak was subsequently reported by the Centers for Disease Control -- it reports 112 of 1313 passengers (8.53%) and 12 of 556 crew (2.16%) were ill.
Media, PAX, CDC
June 6
Ventura
P&O Cruises
The Telegraph in London reports "passengers on the £300million cruise ship Ventura have been struck down by an outbreak of the potentially lethal norovirus."  The newspaper quotes a P&O spokesperson as saying, "There has been an increased incidence of a gastrointestinal illness among the passengers on Ventura over the last three days ...  "Enhanced sanitation protocols have already been implemented to help minimize transmission to other passengers. The captain is regularly updating the passengers and crew on the situation. Unwell passengers are asked to comply with the doctor's instructions and isolate themselves in their stateroom until non-contagious. "They have been asked not to proceed ashore, and any shore excursion costs are refunded. Room service is provided to affected passengers and every effort is made to make them as comfortable as possible." The latest cruise left Southampton last Friday and is due to call next at Cannes in France and then Rome. It is due back in Britain June 13 after further visits to Corsica and Gibraltar. Media
May 27
Sun Princess
Princess Cruises
A passenger reports there was a large outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on the cruise from Freemantle (Australia) to Vietnam/Asia. Exact numbers have not been reported and are not required by the CDC to be reported given that the cruise does not include any US ports.
PAX
May 25
Norwegian Pearl
Norwegian Cruise Line
FROM A PASSENGER: We were on Inside Passage Alaska cruise May 18-25, 2008, and there was illness on the cruise. We were told at the start of the cruise that they had had 500 people sick the previous week on the ship. Not sure how many were sick on our cruise, but they never did open the buffet line. All food was served by crew. I contracted the virus on the 2nd to last day of our cruise and my husband and I were both quarantined. One visit from the nurse with shot for nausea and meds for vomiting and diarrhea and stomach cramping. Two check-up calls from the reception desk the next morning. We had to order all food from room service and it took more than 8 hours to get Gatorade and saltines. No further contact with any crew other than room steward. No instructions as to how long this would last. FROM ANOTHER PASSENGER: I was aboard the ship at the time. Please note that the number of ill passengers and crew were less than 2% - the percentage that they are legally required to report to CDC.With 4000 guests and crew onboard, 500 sick would mean 8 percent were ill. Granted, they had an elevated number of cases, which by NCL policy (8 or more new cases in a 24 hour period) they go to extreme control measures to ensure it does not become higher. Those measures include the elimination of self-service (for guests and crew alike). PAX
May 18
Norwegian Pearl
Norwegian Cruise Line
There was a large outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on the May 11 - 18 cruise. There has been no official report from the CDC. (see May 25 for what details we have.)
PAX
April 28
Norwegian Dream
Norwegian Cruise Line
The ship reported 10 of 726 (1.38%) crew and 99 of 1579 (6.27%) passengers had reported ill on an 18 day cruise that began April 13 and which disembarks May 1. The CDC reports the source of illness was E coli and norovirus.
CDC
April 9
Aurora
P&O Cruises
The Hong Kong Information Services Department reports that the Centre for Health Protection is following up on a British report concerning four cases of hepatitis-E infection involving four men on the world cruise which took place January 7 to March 28. The UK Health Protection Agency has been working with the cruise operator and port health authority to distribute health advice to all passengers. People who have been aboard the vessel should seek medical advice if they come down with hepatitis symptoms. Hepatitis-E is a viral infection highly endemic in Central and Southeast Asia, and North and West Africa, as well as Mexico. It is acquired by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Its incubation period ranges two weeks to two months. Symptoms include fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice. UPDATE APRIL 30: The BBC reports the number reported coming down with Hepatitis E is now confirmed at 7. Media
April 3
Zaandam
Holland America Line
The ship reported 13 of 611 (2.13%) crew and 100 of 1428 (7.00%) passengers had reported ill on a 15 day Hawaii cruise that began March 19 in San Diego and which disembarked April 3. CDC
March 9
Sun Princess
Princess Cruises
The cruise ending today (14 day Sydney to New Zealand return) reportedly had an outbreak of norovirus affecting approximately 100 passengers. According to a passenger, The increased sanitisation program that was put in place made things unpleasant; instead of relaxing on board you were constantly on guard not to touch the banisters, walking the stairs instead of using the lifts, avoiding contact with any other passenger, waiting in long queues for food because services were disrupted, having to walk around with hand sanitisation gel etc. Staff attitudes were also affected -- deck hands were used as sanitisation crews and were putting in many hours extra, and Wait staffs had to do much more as well, like putting salt and pepper on food, as all salt and pepper pots had been removed. All SPA baths were closed; so were the laundry facilities (which made things unpleasant as under clothes had to be washed in the staterooms and after 14 days at sea fresh clothes were becoming a problem). PAX
February 25
Ryndam
Holland America Line
The ship reported 8 of 556 (1.44%) crew and 113 of 1226 (9.22%) passengers had reported ill on a 10 day Mexican Riviera cruise that began February 15 in San Diego and which disembarked February 25. CDC
January 28
Holiday
Carnival Cruise Lines
WKRG in Mobile reports the CDC is looking into an outbreak blamed for making 22 of 686 crew (3.21%) and 121 of 1548 passengers (7.82%) sick onboard the ship, which returned this morning from a 5 day cruise to Cozumel.
CDC
January 27 Norwegian Star
Norwegian Cruise Line
The ship reported 32 of 1104 (2.9%) crew and 228 of 2430 (9.39%) passengers had reported ill on an 8 day Mexican Riviera cruise that began January 19 in Los Angeles and which disembarked January 27. CDC
January 16
Noordam
Holland America Line
The ship reported 12 of 816 (1.47%) crew and 103 of 1980 (5.2%) passengers had reported ill on a Southern/Eastern Caribbean cruise that began January 5 in New York City and which disembarked January 16.
CDC
January 13
Dawn Princess
Princess Cruises
A passengers writes that "many, many passengers" came down with gastrointestinal illness during the seven day cruise from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera. The CDC has not reported an outbreak. which requires 3% or more of passengers to report illness to the infirmary -- in the case of this ship there would need to be 60 passengers reporting ill to meet the CDC threshold. NOTE: A passenger on the cruise embarking January 20 also reports a large number of passengers with gastrointestinal illness during the cruise.
PAX
January 12
Volendam
Holland America Line
The ship reported 7 of 608 (1.15%) crew and 85 of 1451 (5.86%) passengers had reported ill on a Southern/Western Caribbean cruise that began January 2 in Fort Lauderdale and which disembarked  January 12.
CDC
January 10
Pacific Princess
Princess Cruises
The ship reported 3 of 369 (0.81%) crew and 33 of 642 (5.14%) passengers had reported ill on a cruise that began December 15 in Tahiti and which disembarked at Ft. Lauderdale January 10. The illness was confirmed as caused by e. coli. CDC

Click here for 2007


Return to CruiseJunkie dot Com