Cruise Passengers Struck By Stomach Flu In St. Maarten

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten -- A health ministry official in St. Maarten says that more than two dozen cruise passengers were sick as the vessel docked in the Caribbean island.

Maria Henry of the Collective Preventive Services says the Celebrity Silhouette disclosed the cases of gastroenteritis or stomach flu in its mandatory health declaration prior to arrival.

Henry said the ship's crew isolated the 31 affected passengers and cleaned public areas on board.

The number of sick passengers was far below the 10 percent threshold that would have prevented them from docking. The number of sick passengers dropped to 26 by the time the ship left port Monday.

Cruise line spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said there were more than 4,000 passengers on board.

Last weekend, three U.S.-based cruise ships reported outbreaks of stomach illness: Princess Cruise Line's vessel Ruby Princess, which sailed Sunday from Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades after being decontamiinated; the Crown Princess, which sailed from Fort Lauderdale after cleaning; and Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Sea, which left New Orleans a couple of hours late Saturday because of the same illness and decontamination protocol.

The CDC says that norovirus is highly contagious and spreads from person to person, through contaminated food or water, and by touching contaminated surfaces. Careful handwashing with soap and water is key to the prevention of the spread of norovirus. Contaminated surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly to prevent continued spread of the disease. Norovirus outbreaks occur in many types of settings, including, according to the CDC, health care facilities, day care settings and schools.

Comments

[Peggy M Goldman]

09:18 AM on 02/17/2012

I have to agree with many of the other commenters on this article – hand washing is key – and essential to staying healthy while aboard any ship. Being in such close quarters with thousands of other people, it’s no surprise that the flu and other bugs break out, just like this one in St. Maarten. I’ve cruised many times and (luckily) never encountered a problem. Perhaps this is thanks to frequent hand washing or using hand sanitizer before any meals and after being in public spaces, such as casinos.

Peggy Goldman
President, Friendly Planet Travel
www.FriendlyPlanet.com
http://blog.friendlyplanet.com
@FriendlyPlanet

[twfslc]

11:49 AM on 02/08/2012

I've been on Royal Caribbean, and they seem fanatical about hand sanitizers. You basically can't go into the dining room or buffet without getting squirted with hand sanitizer. Kids can't go into the kid's area without getting squirted. Returning the the ship means getting squirted.

My father worked in the food processing industry for more than 30 years and was very knowlegable about safe handling of food and such. He wasn't the biggest fan of hand sanitizers, because they have a lot of alcohol. While rubbing alcohol is good for cleaning skin before administrating an injection, it's not as effective for hands. Granted, hand sanitizers are great, when you get something on you, whether its sticky food or gas while filling a car. But, soap and very warm water are better.

A sanitizer is merely trying to kill viruses and other germs, while soap and water both kill and remove them.

[ThisGuyJim]

11:27 PM on 02/07/2012

I am always amased at people in the food line all touch the same serving spoon. I suppose the germs know to stay at the handle end of the spoon.

[ThisGuyJim]

11:12 PM on 02/07/2012

I would bet a lot of the illness is people looking for something for nothing like a refund hmmmm?

[becxlt]

01:02 AM on 02/08/2012

What a stupid comment !

[coastalcondo1]

06:28 AM on 02/08/2012

Yes, they probably see the norovirus germs on a serving spoon so they just stand there in line licking this spoon until they get sick so they can get their money back. What a brilliant observation.....you deserve a bozo button.

[nascargirl16]

11:09 PM on 02/07/2012

you do realize that the hand sanitizer's do not kill the virus only washing hands with soapy water. In fact a school in the area where I live about 2 years ago had the kids just using hand sanitizer's and the whole school( about 90%) in a school where before they had about 98% attence came down with the virus and it was caused the school found out by the hand sanitzer's. The only thing that hand santizier's are good for if you are some where that you do not have axis to soap and water. In fact when I am on a cruise in the buffet area I will then go out and go to the wash room and wash my hands I work in the food industry even though we have them at work I use on the soap and water. In almost 20 years I have never missed a day of work. Also the hand sanitizer's make it harder to get rid of colds and everything because they make your body become resist anitbodics if you do become sick.So people with small kids should teach them to use soap and water.

[ThisGuyJim]

11:24 PM on 02/07/2012

Your 100% correct hand sanitizer have limit use. I am always amased at people in the food line all touch the same serving spoon. I suppose the germs know to stay at the handle end of the spoon.

[becxlt]

01:05 AM on 02/08/2012

Think we know why you are in the food service for twenty years . LOL Spell check !

[GOODDOC1]

03:10 AM on 02/08/2012

Among other things!

[lynniebaker]

05:53 AM on 02/08/2012

not nice.

[ARCHIETBUNKER]

11:03 PM on 02/07/2012

If the cruise industry doesn't clean up their act. There will be plenty of ships dry docked.

[vampyreincubus]

10:37 PM on 02/07/2012

Yay here come the plagues :P.... and then the nuclear war... shows over for us.

[JAYSBEARS]

10:27 PM on 02/07/2012

i IMMEDIATELY UPON ARRIVAL AT OUR ROOM TAKE HANDSANITIZER AND WIPE DOWN LIGHT SWITCH PLATES, TELEPHONE, DOOR HANDLES, LIGHT BUTTONS, SLIDING GLASS DOOR HANDLES AND TOILET SEATS. CRUISE ABOUT 2 TO 3 TIMES A YEAR AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS. ALSO CARRY AROUND A SMALL BOTTLE WITH ME FOR BATHROOM DOORS AND TRY NOT TO USE THE HANDRAILS IN THE HALLS.

[coastalcondo1]

06:34 AM on 02/08/2012

Did you miss the memo?....That hand sanitizer is dangerous....be very very careful....lol

[bellagamba]

09:37 PM on 02/07/2012

Just got back from a 10 day cruise. Everyone had to wash there hands with the sanitizier before going into the buffet line. I think they need one by the casnio, everyone toughing the chips and cards
and not washing a big way to spread germs.

[Mark Clemons]

06:47 PM on 02/07/2012

can't help but wonder who is posting
Our 10 family members are going on a cruise
My wife and I cruise often
Have been on many, many cruises and stayed healthy
I love cruising, however
and that is the first four, They have once again the cruise lines show how to shoot yourself in the foot, not much creditability .

[Marie Brandon]

04:14 PM on 02/07/2012

Some people are just plain stubborn about hand washing and this is why you have these viruses. Our 10 family members are going on a cruise in June including 4 children, they are all being outfitted with hand sanitizier on belt loops, on their back packs, and have been well versed in the usage. Hopefully the ship will be sanitizer as well.

[garylinn]

02:18 PM on 02/07/2012

My wife and I cruise often..OUR next one is to HI and to island hop around Hawaii. Our worst nightmare is to become sick on one of our cruises...we wash, wash, wash our hands a lot.

[ewetwin]

02:16 PM on 02/07/2012

Have been on many, many cruises and stayed healthy. Hand sanitizer - a must!!! I truly believe that if the cruise lines did not penalize passengers for canceling at the last minute for GI symptoms there would be less illness on these ships. There is a questionaire that one completes prior to boarding that asks if the passenger has had any GI symptoms recently. Really!!! Would someone answer truthfully if they did? Personally, I would not want to travel anywhere besides my own bathroom if I were ill. Guess I am in the minority.

[santafe4046]

02:12 PM on 02/07/2012

I love cruising, however, I wish that people would excercise the same hand washing techniques that my family and I do. But that's just not going to happen. Ill roll the dice and take my chances because to me, where else can you get to see so many places cheaply, and have the crew fuss over you night and day??

[garryangel]

01:05 PM on 02/07/2012

I am convinced that part of the problem can be traced to cruisers not closing the toilet seat before flushing. Don't laugh too much here, but some years ago I watched a demonstration with a regular residential toilet. In that demo, it was shown that upon flushing with an open lid water droplets were spread outside the toilet into the bathroom. They showed how a tooth brush left on the counter top of the vanity next to the toilet became contaminated by the toilet water.

Now, anyone whose ever been on a cruise knows that flushing the toilet on the ship is a flush on steroids. It is interesting to note that on the newer ships, at least the ones I've cruised, you cannot flush the toilet with the lid up. It blocks the flush handle forcing you to close the lid. Interesting.