Noro Virus not just on cruises, hotels

[Watson's aunt]

Hi

 

On news this past week there was a outbreak of the Noro Virus at a state park in New hampshire. Not sure if they were camping a few families got sick, they all were at different parts of the park and did not know each other.

my question is how safe are the swimming pools on the ship? I know as a kid I would go to public pool and the next day be sick with a sore throat and cold.

Just wondering if the pools carry the virus. I am going on P C cruise in November and would like to do the pool. but not at the cost of being sick. Just wondering if any one has checked out the pools as a reason the Noro Virus spreads,

 

Thanks

 

Mary

[Lady Chew]

there have also been many reported outbreaks in schools, universities, hospitals ... just about anywhere people congregate. Grocery stores, shopping malls ... everywhere!

Since they close the swimming pools when a ship enters Code Red, I would think that means the pools are a source of noro.

They should also close the casinos, but they don't! Mr Chew has caught noro twice on cruises (on HAL) and we're pretty sure that's where he got it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Noro virus is everywhere.

In the last couple of years we have had schools close down to be thoroughly cleaned it was so bad.

And a couple of hospitals would not allow visitors.

As for the pools -- we haven't used them in years.

When a ship is in Code Red -- the pools are shut down.

[jtl513]

Be especially careful on the plane to the port. Touch nothing that you don't have to, like magazines. My DW and DSiL got it on a plane which had quite a few passengers that had just come from a cruise. (They had not been on any ship.)

[sevenseasnomad]

Noro spreads when someone infected touches a surface---could be anything from a menu to an elevator button. Next person comes along and touches this surface also. That person then puts their fingers on their face, near their mouth, eyes, nose. Presto! Regardless of what that second person does from that point on, he/she has now contracted the virus.

 

The second person, without knowing he/she is infected, touches surfaces that a third person comes along and touches too. So you can see how quickly Noro can spread.

 

The only sure precaution is to NEVER put your fingers or hands near your face. Wash your hands with plenty of soap & warm water immediately before eating. Touch nothing, not even the on/off for the faucet. Use a paper towel or one of the cloths provided to turn water off. As you exit the restroom, grab a fresh tissue or paper towel to open the door. Discard it in the trash bin which is usually right next to the restroom door on most HAL ships. On the way to your table, touch nothing.

 

This may seem a bit extreme, but in all my years of teaching & cruising, I've never had Noro by following these simple precautions recommended by the CDC.

[Typhoon1]

A local television story did a Noro story a few weeks ago.

 

The big difference between Noro and Influenza, is there is no vaccine for Noro.

 

Slight off topic, influenza vaccine is now available at Walgreens locations. We are vaccinated for the upcoming season.

[Lovely other]

I heard a sad story from a friend yesterday that highlights just why being aware of norovirus is so important.

 

At christmas she contracted norovirus as did her one year old son. after a couple of days of being really ill she started to feel much better and decided to go ahead with her planned visit to her parents home. once there she began to feel ill again, soon her mother contracted it too.

 

a day later her 90 year old grandmother was taken to hospital. the hospital phoned to say it was her time (nothing to do with a virus or anything, just old and frail) unfortunately because they had norovirus they couldn't go and see her, so the mother could not say goodbye to her mother and my friend could not say goodbye to her grandmother. so sad ....