Holland America Line is facing its fourth norovirus outbreak in a little more than a month after 60 passengers on the Volendam came down with the bug on a recent cruise. The second in just a week also continues the pattern of the cruise line being unable to hold off gastrointestinal illnesses for even a little while.
It was during a multi-week Caribbean cruise on the Volendam, a mid-sized ship that often proves popular because of its intimate atmosphere when passengers began to report symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Reports indicate the outbreak occurred halfway through the cruise. Medical staff on board responded rapidly with containment measures, including symptomatic passengers put into isolation, deep cleaning common areas, and promoting hand hygiene protocols.
The efforts notwithstanding, the virus spread to a considerable number of guests. Holland America confirmed that 60 individuals were affected but assured that no severe complications had been reported.
Holland America issued a statement committing to passenger health and safety. It said that it strictly follows protocols for containing and mitigating the outbreak.
This comes as the cruise line also observed that all guests on board will be informed with regard to preventive measures against norovirus infection and hygiene best practices for the rest of the cruise.
According to reports, this is the fourth reported norovirus outbreak in Holland America since the beginning of this month. A pattern has thus been established here where dozens of passengers fall sick aboard different Holland America ships after similar outbreaks happened.
Another well-known risk is norovirus, a very contagious virus that spreads easily in confined spaces, such as on cruise ships. The illness itself is not usually life-threatening but is certainly very inconvenient and can ruin vacation plans.
Reactions from passengers have been mixed. Some praised the crew’s efforts to manage the situation, while others expressed frustration over the repeated outbreaks. Others criticize whether Holland America is doing anything about the source causes of these outbreaks.
Precautions and Guidelines from the Health Professionals
Health experts advise cruise passengers to take precautionary measures against contracting norovirus. These are as follows:
- Hand washing frequently with soap and water.
- Avoid touching one’s face, especially the mouth and nose.
- Using hand sanitizers. Again, this serves as a supplementary step but does not substitute hand washing.
Passengers are also advised to report any symptoms to medical staff immediately to contain the spread.
As the Volendam undergoes thorough cleaning and sanitization, Holland America is under increasing scrutiny over its ability to manage recurring outbreaks. The cruise line has promised to review its health protocols and work with public health authorities to enhance prevention measures.
For the fourth time since December, a Holland America cruise has been affected by a norovirus outbreak. This raises issues for cruise line operators in preventing the spread of illness in congested environments. Although the company has taken various measures to address the problem, repeated cases have caught the attention of passengers and health officials.
For travelers, the norovirus outbreak reminds them to pay attention to hygiene and be cautious about health precautions when cruising.
