A Disney cruise ship was sent back to port for the second time on December 2 after another outbreak of a Norwalk-like virus struck 203 people ill. In the past few months, three different cruise ships have weathered similarly major outbreaks of the stomach bug, leaving a total of more than a thousand tourists ill. Fortunately the affects are not life threatening, but symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea--all common risks that people take when they travel long distances to escape the stress of their daily grind.
"Any outbreaks are of concern to us," said David Forney, chief of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vessel sanitation program. "The cruise lines are doing everything they can to address the problem." Still, Forney notes that little can be done to prevent additional future outbreaks; the close quarters of a ship provide a nearly ideal environment for the virus to spread. Experts advise cruisers to wash their hands frequently and avoid hand to mouth contact as much as possible.
