Over 200 passengers on the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship got hit with a nasty case of norovirus during a transatlantic trip, which hasn’t docked yet. The ship, run by Cunard, left Southampton in the UK on March 8, made its way to New York, and then sailed through several Eastern Caribbean islands. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), out of 2,538 passengers, 224 fell sick, along with 17 crew members.
Diarrhea and vomiting were the main symptoms, and all the sick folks have been put in isolation, as noted by the announcement. The Queen Mary 2 is slated to return to Southampton on April 6. In light of this outbreak, Cunard has stepped up its cleaning and disinfecting game, following CDC guidelines.
The cruise line has even collected stool samples from the ill passengers for testing. The CDC mentioned, “VSP (Vessel Sanitation Program) is remotely monitoring the situation, including review of the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.” Norovirus, often causing inflammation of the stomach and intestines, is also known as food poisoning or the stomach bug.
Dr. Amber Charoen, a gastroenterologist, previously told Fox News Digital that norovirus is a major cause of gastroenteritis in the U.S. According to health experts, “The combination of indoor spaces, close contact, and crowding is why norovirus thrives in environments like schools, day cares, and cruise ships.” The virus can spread through contaminated surfaces, food, vomit, or even person-to-person contact.
Chad D. Neilsen, an expert from Nemours Children’s Health in Florida, noted that once an outbreak kicks off, it’s tough to manage without some serious public health and sanitation know-how. Although often called the “stomach flu” or “stomach bug,” norovirus isn’t linked to influenza. Symptoms usually include a mix of low-grade fever, chills, vomiting, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.
Dr. Baum mentioned that norovirus outbreaks tend to cause nausea in children, watery diarrhea in adults, and stomach cramps. There’s no specific medication for norovirus, as stated by Baum. Nielsen previously shared with Fox News Digital that norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the U.S., with around 20 million cases each year.
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) reports that norovirus accounts for about 109,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths annually in the U.S., mainly among adults over 65. About one in 15 Americans will catch norovirus every year, and one out of 160 children will end up in the hospital.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor at NYU Langone Health, suggests the best way to fend off norovirus is by washing hands often, recognizing symptoms early, and keeping away from others if you’re sick. The CDC also advises washing fruits and veggies thoroughly and using hot water for laundry if possible.
“There’s no treatment except to stay well-hydrated,” Siegel told Fox News Digital, adding that the virus generally lasts around three days. Neilsen agreed, highlighting that most people bounce back from norovirus in one to three days without treatment, though some might face more severe symptoms like dehydration, which could need medical attention.
The CDC recommends drinking lots of fluids to ward off dehydration and seeking medical help if it gets serious. Fox News Digital reached out to Cunard for more comments. Melissa Rudy, senior health editor at Fox News Digital, contributed to this story.
