Since the resurgence of travel following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, there has been an increase in the number of vacationers opting for crowded cruise ships, particularly in the United States. However, this surge in popularity has also led to outbreaks of noroviruses, causing health concerns for travelers.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 13 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships reported so far this year. This is the highest number of norovirus outbreaks recorded since 2012. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, resulting in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps.
One of the most recent norovirus outbreaks occurred on an Iceland-bound Viking Cruises ship that docked in New York City on June 20. Several crew members and approximately 13% of the passengers fell ill during the voyage. The cruise line representative stated that they believed the gastrointestinal illness originated from a shoreside restaurant in Iceland where a group of guests had dined during their free time.
Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships can occur due to the close proximity of passengers and crew members, which facilitates the rapid spread of the virus.
Cruise ships are taking precautions to prevent the spread of norovirus, such as implementing enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols, promoting good hand hygiene, and conducting health screenings before boarding.