CDC reports 21st cruise ship norovirus outbreak this year, with nearly 100 people infected

Aida Cruises’ AIDAdiva was hit by a norovirus outbreak during its almost month-long voyage, leaving nearly 100 passengers sick.(Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg)

Over 2,000 passengers, plus 640 crew members, were on board.

In response to the outbreak, Aida Cruises said it increased cleaning and disinfection efforts across the ship.It also isolated sick passengers and crew, and collected stool samples for testing.

NOROVIRUS SICKENS OVER 200 CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS ON MONTH-LONG VOYAGE

“Seasonal illness peaks between November and April, and the AIDAdiva report reflects infection patterns on land,” an AIDA spokesperson toldUSA TODAY. 

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“Therefore, we’ve added more hygiene protocols onboard, and cases are already going down.”

Ninety-five passengers and six crew members reported symptoms, according to CDC data.(iStock)

The cruise line also consulted withCDC Vessel Sanitation Programofficials about sanitation procedures and case reporting.

the virusis highly contagious — and that it can spread quickly in crowded settings such as cruise ships.

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“If people have acute vomiting, they should avoid public areas, since even if they don’t touch anything, the virus can spread through the air,” he said.

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As a result of the outbreak, enhanced sanitation measures were implemented on board, along with isolating those who became ill.(Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg)

Weisenberg also noted that proper hygiene plays a key role in preventing transmission.Shared surfaces can easily become contaminated, putting anyone who touches them at risk of infection.

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He added thatwashing handswith soap and water offers better protection than using alcohol-based sanitizers.

norovirus outbreaksreported on cruise ships this year.

There have now been a total of 21 outbreaks, according to the CDC.

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