- Mar 13, 2024
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Once again, a cruise ship has been struck by a gastrointestinal illness outbreak. This time it's on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship which returned to Vancouver on May 14th. The CDC reported that 22 passengers and 2 crew members suffered symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting during the journey from Tokyo to Alaska.
The CDC states they isolated sick individuals, tested stool samples, and followed cleaning protocols.
This incident is part of a larger trend, as there have already been 17 such outbreaks on cruise ships this year, mostly due to norovirus. For comparison, there were 18 in all of 2024 and 14 the year before. The CDC indicates that the number of outbreaks on cruise ships this year surpasses those from pre-pandemic years, though it’s unclear if we’re seeing a new trend. The norovirus seems to be spiking on land too, possibly influencing this pattern on the seas.
With these recurring issues, the cruise industry is grappling with concerns regarding passenger health and safety. What are your thoughts on these increasing outbreaks on cruise ships? Have you traveled by cruise recently? Feel free to share your experience below!
The CDC states they isolated sick individuals, tested stool samples, and followed cleaning protocols.
This incident is part of a larger trend, as there have already been 17 such outbreaks on cruise ships this year, mostly due to norovirus. For comparison, there were 18 in all of 2024 and 14 the year before. The CDC indicates that the number of outbreaks on cruise ships this year surpasses those from pre-pandemic years, though it’s unclear if we’re seeing a new trend. The norovirus seems to be spiking on land too, possibly influencing this pattern on the seas.
With these recurring issues, the cruise industry is grappling with concerns regarding passenger health and safety. What are your thoughts on these increasing outbreaks on cruise ships? Have you traveled by cruise recently? Feel free to share your experience below!
