The Culprit Behind the Cruise Ship Outbreaks: Norovirus
Recently, there have been many media reports on infection outbreaks on several cruise ships with tens—even hundreds—of guests having gastrointestinal symptoms and overwhelming onboard medical staff. Although these cases are still being investigated, it is widely believed that these outbreaks were due to norovirus.
Norovirus 101
Norovirus is a zoonotic virus that likely mutated so that it could spread to humans. It is mainly transmitted through food and water but also through close contact with others.
The most common symptoms of norovirus infection include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Symptoms can also include headache, fever, and chills and usually occur after one or two days of exposure. Severe cases can happen but they are very rare and usually only occur in people with high comorbidities….