A cruise can be the perfect summer vacation. But cruise ships, with hundreds, even thousands of people living in close quarters, can also be a breeding ground for germs.
In particular, cruises are somewhat notorious for gastro-intestinal flare-ups. Another study, which looked at nearly 2,000 ships docked in Sydney, found 5% of ships reported having gastro explosions on board.
If you are about to go sailing, there is no need to panic. There are some precautions you can take to give yourself the best chance of an enjoyable, gastro-free holiday.
What causes gastro?
Viruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in Australia. Norovirus is the leading cause, causing an estimated 2.2 million cases of gastroenteritis each year.
Norovirus is usually passed from person to person through the faecal and oral route, where particles of the virus found in one person’s stool end up being swallowed by another person.
A very large number of virus particles are shed in the feces and vomit, yet a person only needs to ingest a very small number of virus particles to contract the infection.
Norovirus is robust and can withstand acidic conditions (such as in the stomach) and moderate temperatures (for example, we wash clothes or heat food, for example). Additionally, many chemicals used in cleaning products and hand sanitizers do not effectively remove norovirus.
The main symptoms of gastro caused by norovirus are diarrhea and vomiting. Symptoms usually last only a short time (two to three days), and will stop on their own. The main risk is dehydration, which is a major concern for young children and the elderly.
Norovirus on cruise ships
In general, a cruise ship will announce a “gastro outbreak” once 2-3% of passengers or crew are sick with gastro symptoms. So on a 2,000 passenger ship, 40-60 people will need to be healthy before an explosion is declared.
About the author
Leesa Bruggink is Senior Scientist, Enteric Pathology Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Laboratory.
This article is reprinted from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the first article.
An Australian study found 5% of cruise ships that arrived in Sydney between 2007 and 2016 reported a gastro outbreak (98 out of 1967). Of the outbreaks with a known cause, 93% were from norovirus.
Reports appear in the news every time a major disaster occurs, such as Sea Princess reporting 200 cases of gastro caused by norovirus in 2018.
How does it spread?
You can be infected with norovirus before symptoms appear and even after they have resolved, so someone may unknowingly bring norovirus on a cruise with them.
On a cruise ship, norovirus is highly contagious from person to person. This is not surprising as most cruise activities involve mingling with other passengers in a reasonably closed environment.
Although shaking hands is a common greeting, it is impure. Recent research has suggested the fist-bump should be recommended on cruises, while a modified version called a cruise-tap (where only two ribs are involved) may be even better.
Another way norovirus spreads is through contact with contaminated surfaces. A person with norovirus may not wash their hands properly (or at all) after going to the bathroom, leaving many invisible particles of norovirus on their hands.
When this person touches a surface (eg, handrails, elevator buttons, or buffet equipment) they leave norovirus particles behind. Some people can touch these areas and transfer particles to their hands. Then, if they put their hands to their mouths, they can get the virus.
It’s rare to breathe in airborne norovirus particles, but it can happen, usually if someone with the virus vomits nearby.
Although norovirus can be found in food, cruise ships have strict food handling procedures to prevent the spread of illnesses such as norovirus. Although this does not mean that it does not make sense.
How to avoid catching norovirus
It is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of contracting norovirus, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk:
- wash your hands well and often, especially before eating
- don’t rely on sanitisers (hand washing is always good)
- do not share food, drink or eating utensils
- do not touch food with your hands
- minimize unnecessary contact with public surfaces
- leave the area if the person vomits.
If you experience gastro symptoms on a cruise, it is important that you tell the medical staff as soon as possible and follow their instructions.
You may be asked to stay in your room for a short time so as not to infect other passengers; just as you would wish that another infected passenger does not pass the virus on to you and your family.
The sooner workers can identify a gastroenteritis, the sooner they can start cleaning operations and take other steps to prevent an outbreak. Also, if you tell the medical staff, they may be able to give you medicine and prepare a suitable meal to be delivered to your room.
Above all, to reduce the risk of gastro spoiling your cruise, wash your hands well and often.
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