Gastrointestinal Illness Cruise Ships

Cruise ships are required by the CDCs Vessel Sanitation Program VSP to report all onboard cases of gastrointestinal illness 24 hours prior to arrival in any US.

Gastrointestinal illness cruise ships. The use of onshore caterers for off-ship excursions has previously been reported as a risk factor for gastrointestinal illness amongst cruise ship passengers4 A cruise-assoc-iated diarrhoeal disease outbreak was defined as the occurrence of diarrhoeal symptoms among at least 3. The World Health Organization WHO has determined that most of the gastrointestinal disease occurrences on cruise ships are associated with the consumption of contaminated food or water. Following investigations in 1972-1973 of outbreaks of enteric disease on cruise ships using American ports a surveillance system was established which required that 24 hours before arrival in port each ship report the number of persons with diarrheal illness seen by the ships physician during the cruise.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC reports that 20 million people on land in the US. TNP had reported earlier the cruise ship from Australia had decided to disembark all 2000 passengers when those affected fell ill. 4 A cruise-associated diarrhoeal disease outbreak was defined as the occurrence of diarrhoeal symptoms among at least 3 per cent of passengers on a cruise.

The majority of infections on cruise ships involve respiratory and gastrointestinal infections which account for up to 29 and 10 of recorded illnesses on cruise ships respectively. Dramatic improvements in sanitary engineering and especially operational procedures aboard cruise ships began in the mid-1970s after several large outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis. Cruise ship staff send this report any time the ship is in the United States or within 15 days of arriving at a US.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Vessel Sanitation Program working with the cruise industry conducts ship inspections provides public. Incorrectly Called the Cruise Ship Disease. On 2 of cruises it was 5 or greater.

Since 1978 more than 50 of ships have met the standard each year. Cruise ship staff send this report between 24 and 36 hours before the ship arrives at a US. Advice about preventive measures of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and influenza vaccination was given to passengers and crew.

If 3 or more of the onboard population becomes sick within two weeks of a planned call on. Celebrity Solstice which carries almost 3000 passengers is the leading ship of the Solstice-class of cruise ships and has confirmed multiple cases of gastrointestinal illnesses. Come down with norovirus every year.