There were two luxury cruise ships, one by Holland America Line and the other by Oceania Cruises, that reported gastrointestinal outbreaks; more than 120 passengers and crew members were affected. The health and safety on board were brought to light by two separate voyages.
The Holland America cruise ship Zaandam is undergoing a 14-day Panama Canal cruise, wherein there was an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in 73 people, both the passengers and the crew members. The ship, Riviera, belonging to Oceania Cruises had reported gastrointestinal illnesses in its case count at 52 cases when it was embarking on its 12-day Caribbean cruise. The outbreaks were associated with norovirus or other forms of gastrointestinal infection with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
The CDC confirmed the outbreaks and dispatched teams to take a follow-up. According to the CDC report, while the cases sounded alarming, gastrointestinal illnesses are not common on cruise ships mainly because of crowded conditions and shared facilities.
Holland America and Oceania Cruises immediately took precautions to curb the outbreak. Deep cleaning was done in all public areas, hand washing stations were installed, and any patient diagnosed with the illness was immediately segregated from other passengers to avoid further transmission.
Holland America Line, on the other hand, insisted that it just wants to be able to provide a healthy environment for its guests and the rest of the community. In like manner, Oceania Cruises confirmed to follow hygiene practices and cooperate with the CDC in its investigation.
All passengers who fell ill were seen on board and were monitored closely by the medical staff on the ship. They advised those severely infected to leave the ship to be treated further.
While the exact cause of outbreaks is not ascertained to date, investigations into the event indicate that norovirus is more likely to have been the responsible virus. A very contagious viral agent, spread by contaminated food, surfaces, or person-to-person contact, norovirus is a commonly encountered cause of gastrointestinal illnesses in general and confined settings, which includes cruise ships.
CDC officials took stool samples and other data to identify the pathogen responsible. The results of the investigation are likely to guide future prevention measures.
The two cruise lines have taken the incidents as a wake-up call to review their health protocols to prevent such incidents in the future. Among the measures considered are enhanced pre-boarding screening, strict hygiene enforcement, and education of passengers on preventing illnesses.
Despite such incidents, outbreaks of this magnitude are rare compared to the overall number of passengers that cruise every year. Nonetheless, recent occurrences clearly show a need for perfect health in the cruise industry.
The health experts advise frequent hand washing, avoiding shared utensils, and good personal hygiene as a means of reducing the risks of contracting gastrointestinal illnesses during cruises. Moreover, the passengers are encouraged to report symptoms to the ship’s medical staff promptly so that timely intervention is ensured.
Gastrointestinal outbreaks on Holland America’s Zaandam and Oceania Cruises’ Riviera have worried about the health safety of the cruise line. Even though both the cruise lines responded promptly in an attempt to curb the spread, the instances reveal the call for increased care and attention so that health aspects are not compromised on cruise ships. The industry would definitely be better prepared for these incidents to avoid similar ones for the voyages of their future passengers.
