Last year, there were 14 outbreaks of norovirus illness on U.S. cruise ships – a 10-year high, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CC) Vessel Sanitation program. By early March 2024, there had been one outbreak reported, which sickened 92 passengers. Although norovirus illnesses are rarely deadly, the symptoms can quickly ruin a long-planned vacation.
What are noroviruses?
Norovirus illness is often called "stomach flu" or a "stomach bug," but it is not related to influenza at all. According to the CDC, noroviruses are the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States. Noroviruses are highly contagious and spread through physical contact, such as when:
- Food, water, or objects that are contaminated with norovirus are placed on a surface, such as a countertop
- A person touches their mouth after coming into contact with vomit or diarrhea from a person who has a norovirus
- Tiny drops of vomit or diarrhea land on a surface, and the virus then contaminates food or drinks, or a person touches the surface and then their mouth
In the last two instances, norovirus transmissions likely occur when someone is caring for a person who is sick with the virus.
Symptoms of norovirus illness
The symptoms of a norovirus illness include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach ache, nausea, fever, and chills. Most people develop symptoms usually within 12 to 48 hours after exposure and feel better within one to three days. However, people who have norovirus can continue to spread it as long as two weeks after their symptoms subside.
The biggest risk to health from norovirus is dehydration, which can be dangerous in older adults and young children.
6 tips to avoid norovirus on a cruise
Noroviruses mutate quickly and are extremely hard to kill. They are enclosed in a protein structure called a capsid that alcohol is unable to permeate. That makes alcohol-based hand sanitizer ineffective against it.
The best way to avoid becoming ill with norovirus is to keep from touching surfaces contaminated with it. Here are some things you can do to reduce of contracting the virus while on a cruise:
- Wash hands regularly. Clean your hands with soap and hot water before and after eating, after using the bathroom, and after touching surfaces other people may have touched, such as handrails and elevator buttons. Remember, hand sanitizer is not effective in killing it.
- Pack disinfecting wipes. Wipe down surfaces such as cabin doorknobs, remote controls, faucets, and countertops. After you’re done, wash your hands.
- Skip the buffets. Serving utensils are one way that norovirus spreads, so choose on board restaurants instead of buffets, where many people handle the same tongs and spoons.
- Don’t share food or drinks. If one person you’re traveling with gets sick, they can easily spread the illness to you before they show symptoms and after their symptoms resolve.
- Avoid public bathrooms. Many travel experts recommend that travelers use the bathrooms in their cabins to avoid contact with others’ germs. It only takes a tiny droplet on the surface of a countertop or toilet – and forgetting to wash your hands – for you to contract the virus.
- If you see or hear someone getting sick, leave the area. Resist the urge to help or clean up after someone who is ill. Instead, contact a member of the ship’s staff for assistance.
If you become sick with a norovirus
The CDC recommends that you report your illness to the ship’s medical facility and follow their recommendations. One of the most important things you can do if you become sick is to drink water or electrolyte drinks without caffeine to prevent dehydration. In addition, it's always good to pack over-the-counter pain relief, anti-diarrheal, and anti-nausea medicines just in case you need them.
If you need more intensive care while traveling
Travelers who don’t recover quickly from a norovirus or become dehydrated may need to seek a level of care beyond what’s available at the ship’s infirmary. In extreme cases, a patient may need to be medically transported back home to receive the treatment they neeed. The SentinelMED team has decades of experience in providing medical transport, medical repatriation and medical escort services for travelers. They work closely with medical providers, commercial airlines, family members, and travelers to arrange safe and comfortable transport.
The SentinelMED team understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
