Norovirus - From the P&O Website

[Skyrules]

Norovirus Onboard Pacific Sun

 

Released: 07 Jun 2006

 

Norovirus Onboard Pacific Sun

P&O Cruises advise that during the current cruise of Pacific Sun N617, there has been an increased incidence of gastrointestinal illness onboard. Our onboard laboratory testing has confirmed the illness to be caused by Norovirus (also known as Norwalk Virus), which is highly contagious and easily transmitted from person-to-person, especially if meticulous attention is not paid to personal hygiene. Land based Norovirus outbreaks are very common. Only the common cold is reported more frequently.

The ship departed Sydney on 30 May for a ten night Queensland Coastal cruise. The New South Wales Health Department recently released a Health Warning about a surge in gastroenteritis cases in New South Wales. The Health Department said that more than 5,000 people in the previous five weeks had been treated for gastroenteritis at emergency departments across greater metropolitan Sydney, which is 2,000 more cases than expected for this time of year.

P&O Cruises is collaborating with the Queensland and New South Wales Public Health Departments and has initiated an extensive sanitation program onboard to interrupt the spread of the virus. The pattern of the spread of illness suggests that the virus was most likely introduced onto the ship unwittingly, by a passenger with the illness.

At the onset of the increased incidence of gastrointestinal illness, sanitation efforts onboard Pacific Sun were immediately intensified to minimize transmission to other passengers. A comprehensive ongoing disinfection protocol developed in conjunction with several international public health authorities has been implemented. As a result, we have seen a decline in the number of passengers who have reported with symptoms of the virus.

Passengers who have been unwell have been treated at no cost and have been asked to comply with the ship’s doctor’s instructions. This includes a brief isolation in their cabin until they are non contagious.

The illness itself normally causes a mild stomach upset with vomiting and diarrhoea lasting between 1 and 3 days. People infected with the illness usually remain contagious for 48 hours after they have recovered.

 

The additional procedures around the ship include the closing of the buffet and regular, round the clock sanitising of public spaces.

Passengers have also been reminded that in order to arrest the spread of the virus, meticulous attention to personal hygiene is necessary and requested to use the toilet facilities in their own cabins rather than toilets in public areas.

 

The ship and the embarkation hall at Sydney will undergo an extensive disinfection program prior to the embarkation of passengers on the next cruise N618 on Friday evening.

Pacific Sun departed Sydney on 30 May on a ten night Queensland coastal cruise visiting the Whitsundays, Cairns, Port Douglas, Willis Island and Brisbane. The ship is carrying approximately 1650 passengers and 690 crew.

 

BACKGROUND NOTES

Our on board measures include:

Passengers presenting to the ship’s hospital with symptoms of the illness are receiving free treatment and bottled water is available free of charge to all passengers.

 

“Hit squads” of trained sanitizing staff disinfect any area where people are ill or where ill passengers have been, including cabins.

 

All hard surfaces with which passengers could come into contact are disinfected hourly. This includes lift buttons, hail railings, bars and tables.

 

Disinfecting lotion for hand cleaning is provided at the entrance to the restaurants.

 

Those with the virus are requested to stay in their cabins where they are provided with room service.

All passengers receive precautionary advice suggesting measures to avoid contraction and spread of the virus. This includes taking scrupulous attention to personal hygiene including regularly washing hands.

 

Buffet food service is assisted by waiters, preventing passenger contact with food service.

 

On return to Sydney, whilst the ship is cleared of people, the sanitizing crews will fully disinfect the ship and the public areas of the passenger terminal prior to commencing embarkation of the next cruise.

What is the Norovirus?

Norovirus (formerly known as Norwalk Virus) is an extremely common virus which causes gastroenteritis (an inflammation of the stomach and the intestines). Only the common cold is reported more often. Symptoms of Norovirus include nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhoea; some people may also experience headache, mild fever and abdominal cramps (“stomach ache”). It is sometimes known as the “24 hour stomach bug”. Symptoms usually last between 1 and 3 days and generally resolve without treatment or long term consequences. The incubation period of the virus averages about 24 hours. People infected with the illness usually remain contagious for 72 hours after they have recovered.

 

The United States Centre for Disease Control estimates that Norovirus is the causative agent of some 23 million cases of gastroenteritis in the U.S. annually; however the vast majority of all outbreaks occur on land. Statistics from 2002 data have indicated that the incidence of contracting Norovirus on land in the U.S. is as high as 1 in 12 persons; and only 1 in 4000 on a cruise ship.

 

Norovirus is spread by direct person-to-person contact. As the viral particles are able to survive for long periods in the environment, the illness can be spread through contact with surfaces such as hand rails, door knobs and lift buttons, or by sharing food, water or eating utensils.

[Heads !!!!]

They will also be repainting the ship in a brand new livery and renaming her as a result. Here is a sneak preview:

 

[Tropicalshowers]

lol! Thanks Heads!!!!:D