General Concern about Norovirus on all Ships

[keesar]

From Florida Health:

 

"The CDC recommends that handwashing consist of a minimum of 20 seconds of washing using soap and warm water. This 20 seconds should include friction to all hand surfaces. Sanitizing alcohol gels can be used as an alternative for handwashing, provided that the hands are “socially clean,” are free of organic matter, and adequate contact time is observed. Alcohol based hand sanitizers ARE NOT effective against spores and therefore should not be utilized as the primary means of hand hygiene when dealing with organisms such as Clostridium difficile"

Edited February 1, 2014 by keesar

[NLH Arizona]

Excellent point. I frequently see utensils placed on top of the food being served. I won't touch that item, but who knows what had been placed miinutes before on the food I do take ? Spraying the cabin with Lysol sounds good, but the minute your steward comes in to clean, it could be contaminated again. One spray per cruise is not enought. Someone mentioned spraying the TV remore. My wife takes the plastic wrap from a cup and puts the remote in it. It has nothing to do with NV, as much as it does being told by a flight attendant what some people do with those remotes. Blah! And then there are those who won't cover their mouths when sneezing and then...and then... Where does it end?

It will end when people start using common sense, use proper hygiene and care about someone other than themself and when people know they are sick, they shouldn't board the ship and if they do, stay in their cabin until they are well (same goes for those that get sick on the ship, stay in your cabin).

 

On one of my cruises, they passed out the medical info sheet to be filled out while we were in line and one couple behind me said "I'm not going to tell them I'm sick, I paid too much for this cruise". And yes, they were out and about everyday passing on their germs.

[luv2trvlnow]

From Florida Health:

 

"The CDC recommends that handwashing consist of a minimum of 20 seconds of washing using soap and warm water. This 20 seconds should include friction to all hand surfaces. Sanitizing alcohol gels can be used as an alternative for handwashing, provided that the hands are “socially clean,” are free of organic matter, and adequate contact time is observed. Alcohol based hand sanitizers ARE NOT effective against spores and therefore should not be utilized as the primary means of hand hygiene when dealing with organisms such as Clostridium difficile"

I have also heard this. I have heard that the alcohol gels and such don't really kill the Norovirus. Maybe the reason we are hearing so much about it now is people are relying too much on these gels and wipes and are not washing their hands enough. I always do both.

Sharon

[CaroleSS]

I take a greater risk of personal harm driving to work every day than I do in getting sick on a cruise.

 

Any elementary school teacher will tell you horror stories about germs, pink eye, head lice, etc.

 

I've seen studies that say your cell phone harbors more germs that may make you sick than a public toilet seat....but you cover the toilet seat with paper thinking you are protecting yourself, but keep your cell phone in your purse or pants pocket....placing it on tables and the like when out of your home, lest someone try to contact you.....

 

Germs are among us, life is risky and no one gets out alive.

[Staplerman]

I would suspect that any unfortunate cruiser who contracts Norovirus will do their level best to stay healthy on subsequent cruises.

 

I fell ill from Norovirus on Carnival Freedom in 2012. I'm 42 years old and I have never felt so poorly. I wanted to die. I'm being serious.

 

Now we hope for the best and plan for the worst. EVERYONE should carry packs of powdered Gatorade/Powerade with you. If anyone in your cabin falls ill, they're convenient and will save you $$$. Plus, you won't find yourself running around the ship looking for the one bar that stocks Powerade like we did on Carnival Freedom. Oh yeah, it's also handy for anyone nursing a hangover.

 

Also, be sure to carry Phenergan and Immodium. Both are inexpensive, easy to acquire and could quite literally save your cruise. My son and I were laid up for a day but these meds got us back on our feet well enough to enjoy Aruba the next day. They also helped us enjoy the rest of the cruise and not be stuck in the cabin.

 

Finally, do yourself a favor and pack several sets of food handler gloves. I suppose you could use them at buffets, etc. But if anyone gets sick in your cabin, using these gloves can help you keep from getting sick or going insane from repetitively wiping surfaces, knobs, etc. down to keep from getting sick.

 

Create a little "crash bag" with these items in it and throw it in your suitcase. Don't let fear ruin your vacation; prepare for the worst and hope for the best!

[Hlitner]

We know this has been posted before (again and again) but the regular hand sanitizers (like the Purell used by many folks and ships) is nearly useless against the tough Norovirus. They sure help kill other germs but if you want to do yourself a favor you need to wash your hands with warm/hot soap and water as often as possible and not touch anything in the rest rooms (including the doors) with your bare hand. Some of the newer ships now have electric door openers and ships without this convenience you should just use a paper towel to open the rest room doors. The other advice (which makes sense but is often ignored) is to avoid touching your face (especially around your mouth or eyes) with your hands. If you really need to touch your face, just pop into a nearby restroom, scrub your hands with soap and water...and then touch :). These simple precautions have kept DW and I Noro-free on many years of cruising. Another issue to consider is that airplanes and airports are very dirty places (and often where folks actually pick-up Noro) so be cautious (especially when you use an airplane rest room).

 

Hank

[miched]

Many times there will be an attendant in the restroom. People will still walk out without washing their hands. I asked the attendant and he said that they can't say anything.

 

I was at the ASC and a person was picking stuff out with their fingers. I brought it to the attention of a worker and was told that they can't say anything.

 

Cruise lines need to wake up. If a passenger is so inconsiderate they should be banned from cruising on that line. Why let one bad apple ruin it for everyone? It seems as if they let the minority rule and get rewarded while everyone else has to suffer.

 

🌅🌴🍸🍻

[phoenix_dream]

I would suspect that any unfortunate cruiser who contracts Norovirus will do their level best to stay healthy on subsequent cruises.

 

I fell ill from Norovirus on Carnival Freedom in 2012. I'm 42 years old and I have never felt so poorly. I wanted to die. I'm being serious.

 

Now we hope for the best and plan for the worst. EVERYONE should carry packs of powdered Gatorade/Powerade with you. If anyone in your cabin falls ill, they're convenient and will save you $$$. Plus, you won't find yourself running around the ship looking for the one bar that stocks Powerade like we did on Carnival Freedom. Oh yeah, it's also handy for anyone nursing a hangover.

 

Also, be sure to carry Phenergan and Immodium. Both are inexpensive, easy to acquire and could quite literally save your cruise. My son and I were laid up for a day but these meds got us back on our feet well enough to enjoy Aruba the next day. They also helped us enjoy the rest of the cruise and not be stuck in the cabin.

 

Finally, do yourself a favor and pack several sets of food handler gloves. I suppose you could use them at buffets, etc. But if anyone gets sick in your cabin, using these gloves can help you keep from getting sick or going insane from repetitively wiping surfaces, knobs, etc. down to keep from getting sick.

 

Create a little "crash bag" with these items in it and throw it in your suitcase. Don't let fear ruin your vacation; prepare for the worst and hope for the best!

 

You might not be aware, but norovirus is contagious for up to TWO WEEKS after you are sick, so by going out the next day you were likely spreading the virus all over the place:(. Phenergen and Immodium may help the symptoms of the virus, but they do not cure it any faster unfortunately.

 

But that said, considering that it can be transferable for up to two weeks, there is really very little an individual or the cruise line can do to totally stop it's spread; it can only be minimized. All one can do is take reasonable precautions and cross your fingers. I really dislike posts where the implication is that if everyone suddenly started practicing good handwashing hygiene and so on that the virus would no longer be an issue. If only. I am extremely diligent about washing my hands, using my knuckle to press elevator buttons, not holding handrails (unless the ship is a rockin':)), using the Advanced Purell hand sanitizer right before I eat anything, and on and on. Yet despite these precautions, I have caught noro once on a cruise ship, and on my last two cruises I caught a very nasty cold (once mid-cruise and once the last day). There is only so much that can be done. These viruses (especially noro) are extremely contagious and will always be an issue until which time as a vaccine is developed (which is now under testing and hopefully will be ready to go in a couple of years). It is not a 'cruise line disease' as it is often called, it just gets so much publicity when a cruise ship is affected. I had it at home a week or so ago. It is everywhere.

[BosoxI]

I was at the ASC and a person was picking stuff out with their fingers. I brought it to the attention of a worker and was told that they can't say anything.

 

 

Excuse my ignorance (and I'm sure I'll feel stupid when you tell me) but what is the ASC?

[jackdiamond]

Excuse my ignorance (and I'm sure I'll feel stupid when you tell me) but what is the ASC?

I have the same question. I am not pleased with the use of acronyms instead of proper words.

[obnurse]

keesar: the quote you used by the CDC states alcohol-based sanitizers are ineffective against Clostridium Difficile, which is a bacteria, not a virus. C-Dif is only killed by bleach, but C-Dif is not our focus on cruise ships. The CDC still does recommend using hand sanitizer in addition to proper hand washing. I would just hate for people to skip sanitizing their hands because they think it's ineffective. Additionally, alcohol-based sanitizers kill all kinds of viruses and bacteria that can make us sick. Noro is just one virus that we focus on. In the hospital we use alcohol-based hand sanitizers all day every day in between hand washing. It is required and expected that every time we walk into a room and out of a room we sanitize our hands. Even the surgeons use a special hand sanitizer prior to going into the OR. These are great products and shouldn't be disregarded. Again, regular proper hand washing is #1.

[americaneskimo1]

As stated by others the regular hand sanitizers and wipes do not kill the noro virus. Do a google search for hand sanitizers and wipes that are more effective against the virus. I did this for our upcoming cruise and purchased them on amazon. Regular hand washing is best but it's nice to have the special hand sanitizer right before you eat and the special wipes to wipe down the room. I think I will also pick up a can of Lysol III in Fort Lauderdale before I board! As well as bring some Imodium just in case.....I would not discourage people from using the hand sanitizer provided by the ship - it's effective for some things - just not norovirus.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[mafig]

Maybe we've been lucky, but the Only times we have ever had Norovirus has been on a cruise ship, and we are both over 70. We also have traveled on land trips extensively, with groups of people, and have Never had NV. My concern is as to why we have only experienced this on a cruise and never anywhere else?

 

 

Interesting. DH and I have both suffered from Noro (on different cruises). Mine hit me as soon as I got home (last year). It wasn't as lucky as it would appear, since I was sick for Christmas.:mad:

We go to casinos a lot ... Atlantic City, Biloxi, Las Vegas and the Indians here in Florida. I'm sure people are just as careless in casinos about personal hygiene. We touch all those buttons on the slot machines, handle the chips on the table games, eat in buffets ... and (knock wood), we've never gotten sick. We've often wondered why we did on cruises but not at casinos.:confused:

Edited February 2, 2014 by mafig

[junetraveler2014]

keesar: the quote you used by the CDC states alcohol-based sanitizers are ineffective against Clostridium Difficile, which is a bacteria, not a virus. C-Dif is only killed by bleach, but C-Dif is not our focus on cruise ships. The CDC still does recommend using hand sanitizer in addition to proper hand washing. I would just hate for people to skip sanitizing their hands because they think it's ineffective. Additionally, alcohol-based sanitizers kill all kinds of viruses and bacteria that can make us sick. Noro is just one virus that we focus on. In the hospital we use alcohol-based hand sanitizers all day every day in between hand washing. It is required and expected that every time we walk into a room and out of a room we sanitize our hands. Even the surgeons use a special hand sanitizer prior to going into the OR. These are great products and shouldn't be disregarded. Again, regular proper hand washing is #1.

obnurse: I am glad you chimed in. Too many people are saying no hand sanitizer works. My pharmacy had me order Clorox 02174 bleach free hand sanitizer spray. This hand sanitizer DOES kill the noro virus. Dollar store hand sanitizers do not. Dries the daylight out of your hands but just put cream on at night and all is fine.

[fluffyscruffy]

I think the buffets should have a built in holder to place the serving utensils in after getting food rather than everyone just putting the serving spoon where ever it lands. I have seen a plate in front of the food to put the serving spoon on but too many people don't use it. If there was a specific place for the serving spoon passengers could be educated about using it as we have been about the hand sanitizer.

 

I have also wondered, but haven't asked, if the dining room menus are cleaned after be handled by passengers.

[obnurse]

June: Thanks! I believe rumors get started on threads and people take for granted that what they read on here is gospel. Not always. If the alcohol-based sanitizers were ineffective the hospital systems would not be using them.

[Hlitner]

On our last HAL cruise we noticed that this line had changed-over to using "Byotrol" as their sanitzer. This is an interesting product since it contains no alcohol, does not dry-out hands, and claims to be somewhat effective against Norovirus.

 

HAL also claims to have benefited from their "Code Orange" program which uses an intensive anti-noro regiment during the first 48 hours of a cruise. During their Code Orange they do not allow passengers to dish-out their own buffet items (the crew handles this function), crew handles all the drink dispensers, salt and pepper shakers are removed from the Lido buffet, etc. Although HAL still has their Noro problems we had a ship's physician tell us that the program has proved to reduce the number of outbreaks.

 

Hank

[Fouremco]

A couple of posts by an MD on our roll call that are well worth reading:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=41517881&postcount=806

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=41533333&postcount=816

[carolslc]

A couple of posts by an MD on our roll call that are well worth reading:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=41517881&postcount=806

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=41533333&postcount=816

 

Excellent posts - thanks for sharing.