American authorities are sounding the alarm: norovirus epidemics are increasing on board cruise ships. Hundreds of patients have been identified in December 2024. These viruses cause potentially fatal gastrointestinal illnesses.
Diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps are some of the symptoms of gastroenteritis, caused by norovirus.
On liners, these illnesses are generally referred to as “cruise ship virus“. Their particularity is a higher contagiousness, with viral particles which can remain active for up to a week. These viruses are also distinguished by the fact that a very low infectious dose can be contaminating; touching a table, then putting your fingers to your mouth may be enough to become contaminated.
This season, according to the American national press, the spread of these noroviruses would be more massive than usual, both at sea and on land.
Hundreds of cruise ship passengers are said to have been victims of this gastroenteritis in the month of December alone. One of them, a 77-year-old American, even died.
The government agency for disease control and prevention confirms that such outbreaks on board cruise ships hit a record in 2024: there were no less than 16.
The most important was related to Salmonella; it was last September, on a Royal Caribbean ship. 180 travelers were affected.
