Live from the Crown; 'Norovirus' precautions in full swing

[Pia1913]

Just announced on GMA - 39 passengers affected. No other information given.

[eldridchapman]

Is 70% isopropyl alcohol as effective as Lysol for antimicrobial/antibacterial? I usually keep a bottle with me for general cleaning(it's more effective than soap)

[JoAnneNYI]

check out this article...

 

http://www.stopthestomachflu.com/Home/which-cleaning-products-kill-stomach-flu-viruses

[chengkp75]

Is 70% isopropyl alcohol as effective as Lysol for antimicrobial/antibacterial? I usually keep a bottle with me for general cleaning(it's more effective than soap)

 

Okay, you're talking antibacterial here, not antiviral, right?

 

Soap, per se, is neither an antibacterial nor an antiviral. Soap is a lubricant, whose use breaks the surface tension, to allow the bacteria, virus, or spore away. It kills nothing.

 

Does alcohol do a better job of breaking surface tension than soap? No. Can alcohol be an antibacterial? Yes, depending on the surface, the bacteria, and the contact time.

[chengkp75]

check out this article...

 

http://www.stopthestomachflu.com/Home/which-cleaning-products-kill-stomach-flu-viruses

 

Please note that the Clorox products listed here are shown as effective against "feline calicivirus" which is similar to noro, but not noro. Most commercial products claiming to be effective against noro are actually tested on feline calicivirus.

 

From the CDC website:

 

Note: Evidence for efficacy of a cleaning agent against norovirus is usually based on studies using feline calicivirus (FCV)—a virus related to norovirus—as a surrogate. However, FCV and norovirus exhibit different physiochemical properties; thus, it is unclear whether inactivation of FCV by a specific cleaning agent reflects efficacy of such solutions against norovirus

 

The site you posted also says that the CDC recommends a 2% bleach solution, when in fact they recommend a 5% solution for efficacy against norovirus.

[JoAnneNYI]

Thank you for that info Chengkp75.

 

Rather than "wet wipes" or perhaps bringing bleach with me or standard lysol spray these may be a better choice....although nothing works better than handwashing with soap...

 

 

http://www.cloroxprofessional.com/assets/pdf/NI-18280_Norovirus_Pathogen_Education.pdf

[chengkp75]

Thank you for that info Chengkp75.

 

Rather than "wet wipes" or perhaps bringing bleach with me or standard lysol spray these may be a better choice....although nothing works better than handwashing with soap...

 

 

http://www.cloroxprofessional.com/assets/pdf/NI-18280_Norovirus_Pathogen_Education.pdf

 

The sprays will work better than wipes, as the surface will tend to stay wet longer. I've seen the "Quaternary" product on the EPA site, I believe, but not sure if it is available at retail. Some of those others may only be available at hospital supply stores. Hydrogen peroxide in about a 3% solution is also effective, contact time 1-3 minutes, and there are products with "activated" peroxide which work better (various catalysts are added to aid in killing various viruses), again not sure if they are available outside hospital supply.

 

Washing with soap is best.

 

If you're up late at night on a ship with an outbreak, you will see the crew wearing respirators and fogging the public spaces. To be really effective, it needs to be somewhat harmful to you, which is why I distrust most claims of commercial products.

 

Having said that, people should bring what they feel fits their comfort zone.

[Loonbeam]

I disagree with wipes versus sprays in some cases. After serving myself at the buffet for example, I prefer a wipe, as if I have just come into contact with the virus, there is a decent chance the wipe will ablate it off the skin, where if the spray doesn't get it it will linger.

 

I prefer the spray for more casual contact.

 

I think the best advice though is unless absolutely necessary, avoid public restrooms on code red. If people are sick, they tend to run to restrooms and the vomit aerosolizes and can stay in the area for quite some time.

 

The sprays will work better than wipes, as the surface will tend to stay wet longer. I've seen the "Quaternary" product on the EPA site, I believe, but not sure if it is available at retail. Some of those others may only be available at hospital supply stores. Hydrogen peroxide in about a 3% solution is also effective, contact time 1-3 minutes, and there are products with "activated" peroxide which work better (various catalysts are added to aid in killing various viruses), again not sure if they are available outside hospital supply.

 

Washing with soap is best.

 

If you're up late at night on a ship with an outbreak, you will see the crew wearing respirators and fogging the public spaces. To be really effective, it needs to be somewhat harmful to you, which is why I distrust most claims of commercial products.

 

Having said that, people should bring what they feel fits their comfort zone.

[chengkp75]

I disagree with wipes versus sprays in some cases. After serving myself at the buffet for example, I prefer a wipe, as if I have just come into contact with the virus, there is a decent chance the wipe will ablate it off the skin, where if the spray doesn't get it it will linger.

 

I prefer the spray for more casual contact.

 

I think the best advice though is unless absolutely necessary, avoid public restrooms on code red. If people are sick, they tend to run to restrooms and the vomit aerosolizes and can stay in the area for quite some time.

 

Again, I'm talking about hard, non-porous surfaces, not skin. The hand sanitizers generally only move the stuff around while you "scrub" your hands. A wipe may, if used vigorously, and one per hand, remove the virus from your hands to the wipe, but you are still touching the wipe. At the buffet, the only effective means of preventing contamination is to use a napkin or glove to touch the utensils.

[RickEk]

Just announced on GMA - 39 passengers affected. No other information given.

 

Why is this even news?? As mentioned on the other Crown noro thread, it is affecting a little over 1% of the passenger/crew complement. :rolleyes:

[san diego sue]

May not have the numbers to be big news but on last nights local San Diego news was mentioned. Ship is on a Coastal and suppose to arrive in San Diego, so maybe that is why it was talked about.

[24639]

I'm on board, too. I find the numbers reported as "passengers" curious. The captain was announcing on the first day that there was a higher than average number of cases, however there were only 41 transit passengers from the last cruise. Doesn't seem logical that sick people would choose to or be allowed to stay on board. That leaves the crew. I know there are quite a few sick as I have heard it from various crew members that I have chatted with. Everyone is doing their best but you can tell the crew is tired.

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app

Edited April 9, 2014 by 24639

[chengkp75]

I'm on board, too. I find the numbers reported as "passengers" curious. The captain was announcing on the first day that there was a higher than average number of cases, however there were only 41 transit passengers from the last cruise. Doesn't seem logical that sick people would choose to or be allowed to stay on board. That leaves the crew. I know there are quite a few sick as I have heard it from various crew members that I have chatted with. Everyone is doing their best but you can tell the crew is tired.

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app

 

A higher than normal incidence on the first day, and a continuance of patient count from one cruise to the next is usually indicative of ill crew. As long as a passenger maintained quarantine, the line would not normally put a B2B passenger off. If it's truly noro, the symptoms generally only last 3 days, so someone on a 14 day B2B could well decide to stay onboard.

[redtogo]

Can this, I wonder be carried on a plane? Mybe I could put it in my checked lugage?

 

Large Lysol can goes into doubled, zipped ziplock bags. Roll up and secure with a strong rubber band around it. The small personal size goes into my one quart carry on, 3 ounce zip lock bag in carry on.

[Yehootu]

Take a look at a product called Zylast. My daughter is a nurse and swears by it.

Tim

[melodyina]

Hello from the Crown,

Yesterday (Tuesday) the Captain announced there were addt'l reported cases, though numbers not stated. The crew is working continuously with buckets cleaning every surface - especially today as we are in Santa Barbara.

 

"Gone" are the sale tables in the evening where jewelry, shirts and etc. are sold. I actually was looking forward to purchasing one of those 'fake' bling rings, and will search them out in the shops.

 

"Missing" I do miss the perfume sample bottles as I like to try the sample on 'me' and not on a stick. I would purchase a bottle (if I won in the casino) as a cruise momento but, not on this trip.

 

"Mystery". Princess has scaled back on soap. I was surprised to see the one ounce bars and not the larger round soap bars with the seawitch logo. Also I need to chase down my stateroom steward as my soap is only a sliver and its not replenished. No fresh soap everyday. Perhaps its just my steward but I find this odd. I will now note to pack my own bar soap on future cruises.

 

"Sad" to see the little bottles of shampoo / eucalyptus scent gone. We now have soap dispensers in the showers. It seems they are unscented and 'blah'. Note to self - for that extra shower endulgence, pack your own body wash and shampoo. "FOUND"! I found the eucalyptus scented shampoo in the spa showers. Yippee! That's where I will shower from now on.

 

"hmmm".. and who was taken off the ship in handcuffs in San Diego? Walking down the gang plank. What could they have done.. obviously they could not 'escape completely' but perhaps they will 'come back new'. :)

 

"Missing" rare to hear a page ship-wide looking for a crew member, before sailaway from San Francisco. The crew member was a waiter - and he needed to report to the Matri'de immediately. The page was twice about 1/2 hour aparts at 8:30pm - 9:00pm. Perhaps they needed to announce ship-wide to shame or embarrass? I found that a bit concerning as the ship staff should have a better communication amoung themselves for their ears only.. now we can only wonder..and adds to elevator gossip.

 

"Bugs" while swimming in the lotus pool, I counted many lady bugs (30+). Note - lady bugs are 'good bugs' and do destroy 'bad bugs'. Perhaps its the ships natural combat of attacking and infestation with all their live plants.

Which brings me to...

 

Hubby noted that he had a few 'fruitfly' bug types floating in his wine glass that he left unattended in the stateroom. He stated they most likely came from my gorgeous flower display in the room. We have an Oceanview, so no balcony where they could have flown in. I'm not concerned.

 

Santa Barbara - did I mention we are fogged in? Tenders must be escorted by the port authority and with the hours this is taking we have decided to stay on the ship. I will be heading to the Lotus Spa sauna and steam room shortly... (the best secret on the ship if you've read this far)... and I will also bask in my eucalyptus soap..:o

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for reporting.

The soap IMO is a sliver of a circle and is terrible. :(

 

As far as the fruit flies, I would report them to the F&B manager asap, they would love to know about this and go through great pains onboard to eradicate them. ;)

[chengkp75]

Take a look at a product called Zylast. My daughter is a nurse and swears by it.

Tim

 

As I've said, whatever works for you.

 

Looked at the Benzethonium Chloride active ingredient, and the CDC guideline for hand hygiene states that using this active ingredient is no more effective than using normal soap and water, and less effective than antibacterial soap and water. This guideline is from 2002, but is the latest I could find from the CDC, and is in fact listed as a resource for one products web page from 2012. I try to be as impartial as I can be with all manufacturers' claims, but I also do some research (admittedly on the web).

[JandKCruisers]

After reading all of the threads, we are feeling better about our 28-day cruise coming up on the Crown, with the staff working so hard. I have been on 24 cruises (6 Princess) and not dealt with this problem before. thank you to those reporting from the cruise ship. I have already recruited another couple to go on the cruise with us. Maybe they should adopt the "washy washy" that in on NCL. No one is allowed to enter the buffet without their hands being sprayed with hand sanitizer.

[Colo Cruiser]

After reading all of the threads, we are feeling better about our 28-day cruise coming up on the Crown, with the staff working so hard. I have been on 24 cruises (6 Princess) and not dealt with this problem before. thank you to those reporting from the cruise ship. I have already recruited another couple to go on the cruise with us. Maybe they should adopt the "washy washy" that in on NCL. No one is allowed to enter the buffet without their hands being sprayed with hand sanitizer.

 

 

As stated many time in most threads don't get a false sense of security from using sanitizer. ;)

Hand washing is best.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[Salacia]

Update on the number reporting symptoms:

 

"SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Officials say the number of passengers believed to be sick with the highly contagious norovirus has nearly doubled aboard a cruise ship sailing to ports in California.

 

Princess Cruises spokeswoman Karen Candy said on Wednesday that 66 passengers and 17 crew members were sick and had to be isolated to their cabins aboard the Crown Princess. That's up from about 37 passengers who reported being sick while the ship was in San Francisco on Monday..." copied from http://www.theindependent.com/news/national/more-illnesses-aboard-princess-cruise-ship/article_af9c10d7-5845-5621-9bef-1f03d74a2e09.html

 

Wishing a speedy recovery to those who are ill. Best wishes to the hard working crew. -Salacia

Edited April 9, 2014 by Salacia

[stocks]

We were on the 49 day cruise and had 2 outbreaks of noro.

[Feelin' Nauti']

Princess officials say there are no plans to change the ship's itinerary and refunds to sick passengers are not being considered at the moment.:cool:

[melodyina]

Hello, Crown update #3 with norovirus on ship.

 

I went to use the laundry room and the signs on the washing machine notified that due to gastroillnus onboard that hot water be used for washing. If you had items that would be damaged with hot water to use the ship's laundry service from your stateroom instead.

 

What I found interesting that it seemed the cold water was shut-off in the self-laundry and everything was washed in hot. I can't be too sure, but at least my setting were all HOT.

 

This ship is constantly working to keep this ship clean and people healthy, and this is another example.

 

"BUMMER" I went to use the steamroom in the ladies locker room of the Lotus Spa and it was 'Out of Order'. Odd, I used it each day and it seemed fine. I asked the front-desk gal when the steamroom would be back in service and she wasn't aware that it was 'Out of Order'.. and she said 'perhaps tomorrow evening'. I used the dry sauna and loved it (as it was hot and wonderful) then went to take a quick dip in the Lotus Pool and to my dismay it was roped over. Oh bummer!

[JohnS43]

It's going to be interesting to see how this develops, because as I posted back on Sunday evening (in the thread labeled "Problems on the Crown Princess") they were apparently aware of a potential norovirus issue before they sailed. (There was a lengthy delay in boarding caused by the time needed for thorough cleaning and sanitation.)