Additional Coverage:
- CDC reports first cruise norovirus outbreak this year, as nearly 90 people are infected (foxnews.com)
Cruise Ship Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Nearly 90 Aboard Holland America’s Rotterdam
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the first reported norovirus outbreak of the year on a cruise ship, impacting nearly 90 individuals aboard Holland America Line’s Rotterdam. The outbreak occurred during the vessel’s December 28th to January 9th voyage.
According to the CDC’s report, the cruise line notified the agency of the outbreak on January 8th. The Rotterdam, which departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, included stops in destinations such as Curaçao, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Jamaica.
The CDC’s data indicates that 81 passengers and 8 crew members reported symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. At the time of the outbreak, the ship carried over 2,593 passengers and 1,005 crew members.
A spokesperson for Holland America Line stated on Monday that “a number of guests onboard Rotterdam reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness” during the voyage. The spokesperson added that “the cases were mostly mild and quickly resolved.”
“The health of our guests and crew is a top priority, and consistent with CDC protocols, we conducted a comprehensive sanitization of the ship when the cruise ended Friday in Fort Lauderdale,” the spokesperson affirmed.
In response to the incident, the cruise line has escalated its cleaning and disinfection procedures, aligning with its outbreak prevention and response plan, as noted by the CDC. Holland America Line also collected stool specimens from those affected for testing and implemented isolation protocols for ill passengers and crew. Medical staff monitored for symptoms of three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period, or more than what is typical for individual travelers, to track gastrointestinal issues.
Dr. Scott Weisenberg, medical director of the NYU Langone Infectious Disease Associates and the NYU Travel Medicine Program, previously highlighted the highly contagious nature of norovirus and its rapid spread in confined environments like cruise ships. He emphasized the importance of individuals with acute vomiting avoiding public areas due to airborne transmission and stressed the critical role of proper hygiene in preventing the virus’s spread via contaminated shared surfaces.