Crown Princess Norovirus outbreak

Crown Princess will end its current cruise two days early following a spike in cases of gastrointestinal illness for the second straight week.

She is to return to her Fort Lauderdale homeport on Thursday instead of Saturday, where it will undergo two days of sanitization in consultation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At last count, 114 passengers and 59 crew on the weeklong Southern Caribbean cruise have reported a gastrointestinal illness believed to be Norovirus.

A total of 364 of 3,103 passengers and 30 of 1,168 crew were infected on last week’s cruise, after which Princess undertook what it describes as “rigorous sanitization measures … including a comprehensive disinfection of all cabins and public areas.” The sanitization, which delayed the ship’s February 4 departure by some six hours, was overseen by the CDC together with the line’s public health, medical and onboard departments.

Norovirus is the second most common illness next to the common cold, and is highly contagious, spreading easily in confined spaces like hospitals, hotels, dormitories and cruise ships. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, and millions are infected each year.

Take a look at one of my previous blog’s

http://nauticalneil.blogspot.com/2012/01/would-you-report-illness.html

This news really asks the question, would you report an Illness?