Over 180 people unexpectedly fell ill on a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship. The circumstances are still unclear.
Vancouver – There has been a concerning mass outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on the Radiance of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship. During the cruise, which began in Vancouver, Canada on September 20, 2024 and ended on September 27, approximately 180 guests and three crew members out of a total of 2,172 passengers became ill. The pathogen is currently unknown (as of October 2nd).
Equally mysterious was the disease that spread on the Carnival Cruise Line cruise ship “Elation” in Jacksonville, Florida. According to those affected her vomit was “bright blue”.
180 people sick on cruise ship: mass outbreak poses a puzzle for health authorities
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency of the US Department of Health, the passengers suffered from, among other things, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headaches and muscle pain. It is unclear how the mass outbreak on the cruise ship occurred and what it was Illness it is exactly. Stool samples were taken from the more than 180 sick people for examination in order to identify the pathogen.
The crew of the Radiance of the Seas cruise ship, in collaboration with Royal Caribbean International, took extensive measures to contain the mass outbreak of gastrointestinal disease. In announcements, passengers were encouraged to report cases of illness and, above all, to pay attention to “hand hygiene,” the CDC reported. At this time the cruise ship was in Alaska, as shown on the map CruiseMapper can be seen.
Second incident on a cruise ship in a year: Gastrointestinal diseases are not uncommon
“The Health and the safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit is our top priority,” a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told the US daily USA Today. “To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety on board our ships, we employ rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which go well beyond public health guidelines.”
Dr. Sarah E. Hochman, an infectious disease expert, told the US daily that such outbreaks are not unique to cruise ships. Instead, it could affect any type of gathering place – be it in a community or in your own household. Nevertheless, mass eruptions like this are particularly unpleasant, as a case in “Norwegian Dawn” shows: in February 2024 Over 2,000 passengers were stranded on the cruise ship due to suspected cholera.
This incident is the second outbreak on the Radiance of the Seas cruise ship this year. As early as April 2024, almost 70 passengers became ill with norovirus. In 2024, the CDC recorded a total of ten outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships, with norovirus being the causative agent in most cases. (cln)
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