To prevent illness from disrupting your cruise ship vacation, taking proper preventative measures can help reduce the risk of seafaring sickness.
In a recent report of cruise ship illness, about 25 passengers returning from a cruise started feeling sick with nausea toward the end of a flight last week.
“CDC is aware of a flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, which arrived at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Friday, May 31,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an emailed statement shared with Fox News Digital about United Flight 1528.
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“Public health officers from CDC’s Houston Port Health Station worked with EMS to evaluate ill passengers on board.”
Among the 163 passengers on the airplane, 75 were on the same cruise, according to multiple reports.
Nothing disrupts a cruise ship vacation like an outbreak of illness — but taking certain preventative measures can help reduce the risk of seafaring sickness. (iStock)
“As a precautionary measure, the aircraft will be removed from service and go through a deep cleaning before returning to service,” United Airlines told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement.
Most of the ill passengers reported mild gastrointestinal symptoms, the CDC noted, but none had a fever during the flight or upon physical exams.
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“No passengers met CDC criteria for further public health follow-up,” the CDC stated. “Passengers from the flight continued with their travel plans.”
Neither the CDC nor United Airlines specified which cruise line was involved.
The most common illnesses on cruise ships are respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal infections and other vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the CDC. (iStock)
The sick passengers may have taken a cruise on Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas, as it was the only ship docked in Vancouver on the day of the flight, according to Cruise Radio.
The ship had a confirmed norovirus outbreak from April 8 to April 22, according to the CDC.
Additional cruise ship outbreaks
The CDC has reported seven outbreaks on cruise ships this year — including the Celebrity Summit by Celebrity Cruises, which sailed from May 24 to May 31.
About 68 passengers and five crew members on that ship reported diarrhea and vomiting during the cruise.
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Nearly all seven of the outbreaks were linked to norovirus, which historically has caused outbreaks of stomach pains and diarrhea on cruise ships.
The CDC Vessel Sanitation Program generally posts outbreaks that are of “public health significance.”
This typically includes voyages from the U.S. and foreign ports that are 3-21 days long with 100 or more passengers, with 3% or more of the passengers or crew reporting symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.
Common illnesses on cruise ships
The most common illnesses on cruise ships are respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal infections and other vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the CDC.
Among the respiratory illnesses, some common culprits include colds, influenza and COVID-19.
“Ships have close living quarters and communal spaces, which allow bacteria and viruses to spread more easily.”
Gastrointestinal illnesses are highly contagious, the CDC warned.
Those can be caused by various germs, including bacteria, viruses or parasites, with the norovirus particularly well-known for causing stomach illness on ships.
Norovirus, often referred to as the stomach flu, usually causes symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain within 12 to 48 hours of exposure.
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Some people may also experience headaches, body aches and fever.
People generally get better within several days, but they can still spread the infection several days after they feel well, according to the CDC.
Why are cruise ships susceptible to outbreaks?
“Ships have close living quarters and communal spaces, which allow bacteria and viruses to spread more easily,” Jill Blumenthal, M.D., infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego Health, told Fox News Digital.
“In addition, passengers are regularly joining [the cruise] at different stops, making it easier to introduce illness.”
Norovirus, often called the stomach flu, usually causes symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain within 12-48 hours of exposure. (iStock)
Cruises may bring passengers to locations that put them at increased risk of infectious diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya and Lyme disease due to exposure to mosquito or tick bites, the CDC warned.
Travelers are also more susceptible to food-borne illnesses, which can easily be transmitted person-to-person on a cruise ship.
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“Food-handling practices and water systems aboard certain vessels may have the potential for transmission of foodborne and waterborne diseases,” Blumenthal said.
“Port visits can also expose travelers to local diseases, which they can bring back on board,” the doctor warned.
Passengers should consult a health care provider to discuss risks.
About 12.5 million passengers traveled on cruises that began in North American ports in 2022, per the CDC.
Tips to prevent sickness on a cruise
The CDC recommends that people ask about COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before traveling — and to consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated areas.
Before taking a cruise, passengers should consult a health care provider to discuss risks, vaccinations and other prevention strategies, as well as any medications to help prevent illness, said Blumenthal.
People should always remember to wash their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, eating or touching surfaces, experts advised.
(iStock)
Esto es particularmente importante para aquellas personas que tienen condiciones de salud crónicas o que están inmunocomprometidas, ancianas o embarazadas, dijo el doctor.
Las personas siempre deben recordar lavarse las manos con agua y jabón después de usar el baño, comer o tocar superficies.
Los desinfectantes a base de alcohol no son efectivos contra el virus, advierten los expertos.
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Cuando viaje a lugares donde las infecciones transmitidas por insectos son prevalentes, los CDC recomiendan usar repelente de insectos registrado en la EPA, como DEET.
También es importante usar la etiqueta apropiada al toser y buscar atención del personal médico del barco en caso de enfermedad.
Para más artículos de Salud, visite www.foxnews/health
Los viajeros también deben estar al tanto de cualquier condición no infecciosa antes de embarcarse en un viaje, agregó Blumenthal.
Algunas personas son propensas al mareo o cinetosis, incluyendo aquellas que están tomando ciertos medicamentos, como anticonceptivos, antidepresivos o analgésicos, señaló el CDC en su sitio web.
Algunas personas son propensas al mareo o cinetosis, incluyendo aquellas que están tomando ciertos medicamentos, como anticonceptivos, antidepresivos o analgésicos, señaló el CDC en su sitio web. (iStock)
Aquellos que están en riesgo de mareo en el mar deben pedirle a un proveedor de atención médica que les recete un medicamento para prevenir o reducir los síntomas, aconsejó la agencia.
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También es importante aplicar protector solar con SPF 15 o superior, ya que es posible quemarse incluso cuando está nublado o frío, agregó el CDC.
Fox News Digital se puso en contacto con Carnival Cruise Line y Royal Caribbean (también propietaria de Celebrity Cruises) solicitando comentarios.
Enlace de origen
La entrada En medio del aumento de enfermedades en cruceros, los expertos comparten formas de mantenerse seguros en el mar apareció primero en World Online.