NOROVIRUS
There is nothing new about the gastrointestinal illness caused by the norovirus, also sometimes referred to as the Norwalk-like-virus or NLV. Nor is it news that incidences of the norovirus on cruise ships have increased over the years.
An extremely unpleasant illness, the effects of the norovirus are abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting as well as muscle pain, joint stiffness, fever, chills and sweating.
Before panic sets in , however, it is worth knowing that the norovirus has in fact only infected a mere 1% of world wide cruise passengers.
The frustrating thing about that figure is that is could be a lot lower and the reason it is is not, is because, in large part, of us - the cruise passengers.
Highly contagious, we, the cruise passengers, do have a way to try and prevent being infected. It’s to do with common sense and it is exactly what we do each year to avoid getting a cold.
Experts tells us that the key is to wash your hands frequently. The recommendation is wash the hands with soap with warm water for AT LEAST 20 seconds, or as one captain with Holland America Line suggested, for two choruses of “Happy Birthday”. This helps to kill the virus should you come into contact with it.
Other obvious precautions include not shaking hands with strangers, (most Captain Welcome Aboard parties no longer involve shaking hands with the master of the vessel) and avoiding touching foreign surfaces, like hand rails, elevator buttons, door plates, table surfaces at buffets.
Also important is remembering to keep hands and fingers away from the face - no rubbing the eyes etc, as the main routes of entry for the virus are the mouth, eyes and nose.
Should the virus get to you - cruise lines now require that you inform the ship’s doctor and you will usually be quarantined in your stateroom for usual 2-3 day duration of the illness.
Again, this is a measure that we, the cruise passengers, should respect and carry out, even if it is miserable to miss half your holiday. You may just help not to make a fellow passenger sick as well.
Our ship’s doctor here aboard Prow’s Edge suggests that patients focus on preventing dehydration. Fluids and electrolytes (salts and minerals) lost in diarrhoea need to be replaced.
For more advice on a wide range of topics take a look at the Prow's Edge Cruise Forum and Cruise Message Boards and see what fellow passengers have to say about everything from cruise lines, cruises and cruise passengers to what to pack, what to dress and everything else you can think of about cruises.
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