Over 139 Cruise Ship Passengers & Crew Affected With Unidentified Illness

More than 130 passengers on the Cunard Cruise Line cruise liner Queen Victoria have become ill with symptoms of an unexplained gastrointestinal illness, which is an alarming occurrence.

Both passengers and crew have been impacted, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that was made public on Thursday. One hundred twenty-three passengers and 16 crew members have reported symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea.

According to the CDC report, the outbreak happened amid the ship’s third week of a 107-day journey that left Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 22. Even with efforts to control the illness, the reason is still unknown.

Per the vessel’s outbreak prevention and response plan, the cruise ship’s crew has taken increased sanitation measures, segregated affected individuals, and intensified sanitation and disinfection procedures in response to the health issue.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program actively monitors Queen Victoria’s condition. Although the ship was supposed to dock in Honolulu five days later and in San Francisco on February 7, it is unclear how much the illness affected the journey.

The outbreak comes after a recent epidemic on another cruise ship located in Florida, the Carnival Cruise Line’s Elation, when guests reported experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis not long after the vessel departed. These outbreaks remain mysterious, with one passenger reporting that she became so unwell that her vomit turned a clear blue colour.

Passengers and crew on cruise ships leaving from Florida remain cautious while authorities and health officials strive to identify the cause of these infections. Concerns about the possible spread of infectious diseases have prompted increased measures throughout the industry.

Reference: Daily Mail, WFLA

Over 139 Cruise Ship Passengers & Crew Affected With Unidentified Illness appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News