News sources in Hawaii are reporting that dozens of Princess cruise ship passengers have been quarantined on Maui after a norovirus outbreak.
Newspapers are saying that Princess Cruises’ Star Princess is ported at Lahaina. According to the local health department, around 30 people are quarantined in their rooms. Health officials report that the virus originated in San Francisco.
Princess Cruises notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There is no official CDC information because there is no need for the CDC to make a report to the public unless 3% or more of the cruise passengers or crew are ill.
This week 8 Canadian doctors published a blockbuster article confirming that norovirus can be transmitted in an airborne form.
Unfortunately, given the short time that cruise ship are in port, no health officials ever determine whether the outbreak is caused by contaminated food and / or water versus a sick food handler versus poor hygiene practices by the cruise ship or passengers. I expect the cruise line will still publicly blame the passengers, whatever the true cause.
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Photo Credit: Jim Walker in Seattle