Happy cruising! Protect yourself from cruise ship illness during your wonderful cruise vacation. Healthy cruising tips by USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP):
1) Wash your hands frequently!
- Wash your hands often to avoid exposing yourself and others to anything that may cause illnesses and spread germs:
- Especially before eating or smoking, and after using the toilet.
2) If you are sick, report your illness.
- Before your voyage, ask cruise line:
- if there are alternative cruising options i.e., voyage dates, credits, etc.
- or, consult a doctor to find out whether it is safe for you to sail.
- During your voyage, visit the ship's medical facility and follow the medical staff's recommendations.
3) Avoid eating and drinking anything that you think will make you sick.
- Look for inspection scores and general food service cleanliness to help you to decide where and what to eat.
There are three most well-known widespread diseases onboard cruise ship populations are Influenza, Legionnaires' disease and Noroviruses:
1. Influenza:
- Influenza infection among travelers is the most common cruise ship illness.
- It is the most popular vaccine-preventable travelers' disease:
- Cruise goers are encourage to have annual influenza vaccination, it is the primary method for preventing influenza and its complications.
- This cruise ship illness can cause disease in all age groups:
- Rates of infection are highest among infants, children, and adolescents.
- Serious illness and death are highest among persons over 65 years of age.
- Persons of any age who have medical conditions that place them at high risk for complications from influenza (e.g., chronic cardiopulmonary disease).
- The risk for exposure to influenza depends on the time of year and destination:
- In Europe, seasonal epidemics of influenza generally occur during the winter months.
- In tropical, influenza can occur throughout the year.
- However, passengers on board can be exposed to influenza anytime; there always will be travelers from areas of the world where influenza viruses are circulating.
2. Legionnaires' disease
- Legionnaires' disease has led to pneumonia outbreaks on cruise ships.
- Contamination of ships' whirlpool spas and potable water supply systems have most commonly been implicated sources of this passenger ship illness.
- Passengers typically develop symptoms upon completion of travel only, resulting in delayed detection and continuous transmission.
- Cruise travel typically involves stays in hotels as well as multiple environmental exposures during ports of call, it is usually difficult to link a cruise ship with infection.
3. Norovirus
- The norovirus was originally called the Norwalk Virus.
- Norovirus is often termed the "cruise ship virus":
- Even thought the vast majority occur on land.
- Norovirus is an extremely common and highly contagious virus which causes gastroenteritis:
- An inflammation of the stomach and the intestines.
- The incubation period for norovirus-associated gastroenteritis is usually between 24 and 48 hours, but cases can occur within 12 hours of exposure.
- Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhea.
- Some people may also experience headache, mild fever and abdominal cramps:
- It is sometimes known as the "24-hour stomach bug."
- Vomiting is more common in children.
- Symptoms generally last between one and three days (24 to 60 hours):
- Medical attention is required especially among the young and elderly.
- Usually resolve without treatment or long-term consequences.
- Recovery is usually complete and there is no evidence of any serious long-term effect.
Visit http://www.smart-guide-to-world-cruise-ship.com/cruise-ship-illness.html to learn more about cruise ship illness norovirus and read good quality information about cruise ship illness and cruise ship health.
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