Traveling is a wonderful experience, but taking precautions is important to avoid illness. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis but does not limit itself to cruise ships. It is almost as common as a cold, with over 22 million cases reported annually by the CDC. Many times it is called the stomach flu or food poisoning. Norovirus spreads quickly whenever large amounts of people are contained in an area, such as an office building, restaurant, hotel, school or cruise ship. It is spread from person to person through contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. Since Covid, most of use have become very aware of the importance of keeping our hands clean and avoiding crowded spaces but this cannot always be helped if you are waiting in line at a buffet to get food which often happens on cruise ship.
Why don’t we hear about it in hotels or other areas? Well, they are not required to report outbreaks like cruise ships are.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. To prevent norovirus infection on a cruise, it’s important to practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water, avoiding contact with others who are sick, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that may be contaminated. It’s also a good idea to avoid consuming raw or undercooked food and to avoid drinking tap water. Finally, be sure to follow the instructions of the ship’s crew and medical staff, who can provide guidance on how to stay healthy during your cruise.
Symptoms are unpleasant and can include vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. Symptoms usually last about 48 hours, but there are some things you can take to feel better. Milk of Magnesia and Imodium have offered relief for some, so pack some on your next trip but many times the shop onboard carries these types of over-the-counter medications. Make sure and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and bring some electrolyte packets with you.
Tips for Preventing Norovirus Infection While Traveling on a Cruise
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Hand sanitizers are better than nothing, but should not take the place of washing your hands, particularly before meals.
- Avoid hand rails and commonly touched surfaces. When you can’t avoid touching things like elevator buttons or doors, then once again make sure and wash your hands before touching your face or eating.
- Stop and think. If you just touched a menu or the sides of your chair that others have clearly touched, wash your hands. Be aware of all surfaces you come into contact with.
- Try to avoid using the public bathrooms if you can make it back to your cabin.
- You can also bring travel packs of disinfectant wipes to keep in your pockets.
- It’s not a bad idea to take a travel-size bottle of Lysol in your suitcase as well so you can disinfect your cabin when you first arrive. I spray door handles, the remote, the telephone, the doors handle of the drawers and closet, toilet top & button, faucet and anything else that we would frequently touch.
- Avoid the buffet, during Covid many of the buffets had someone serve you but most cruise lines have gone back to serve yourself. I had to start doing this when I was diagnosed with Celiac disease and needed to avoid cross-contamination.
- Check the ships sanitation program on the CDC’s website prior to booking. Anyone can bring an illness onboard that they caught prior to cruising, so we are in no way putting the blame on the cruise line, but an overall poor inspection record could indicate an underlying issue.
Related: Gluten Free Cruises
These tips to avoid norovirus don’t just apply to cruise ships. We have posted blogs in the past on how germ-infested airline armrests and tray tables are, so make sure you wipe those down as well. In hotels wipe off TV remotes, on and off switches, as well as the telephone. In restaurants once you have gone through a menu or signed for the check, make sure and wash your hands before touching any food. Carry around your own pen so you don’t have to borrow one.
Don’t let Norovirus keep you from or ruin your vacation. With more and more cruise ship outbreaks in recent years, awareness of Norovirus has increased, but before you reconsider a cruise vacation because of all of the news reports, there are some things you should know. According to CDC figures, less than 1% of reported norovirus outbreaks happen on a cruise ship. It is much more common in schools, child care centers, restaurants & health care facilities. Just put into practice a little extra hygiene and you should be able to avoid this illness wherever you travel.
Source: CDC Norovirus
Note: We share tips for health, travel & preparedness, but this is not official medical advice. Please contact your medical professional if you have questions or symptoms.
