Ebola Virus

[shellunderwater]

I think they lie all the times on the form and that is what sets off upper respiratory illnesses and Noro on cruise ships.

 

Several years ago, the son of friends of ours got sick in their New Orleans hotel room the night before boarding an NCL ship. They lied on the form and boarded the ship with the sick 14 year old in tow.

 

Shortly after the ship sailed they had to call the medical center to get help because the kid was so weak from vomiting and diarrhea. The kid had to have an IV because he was so dehydrated.

 

He turned out to be ground zero for the Noro outbreak on that ship. Eventually all 4 in the family were sick and quarantined into their tiny inside cabin for the duration. The father attempted to get off in Cozumel, but his card set off all kinds of bells and whistles. He was escorted back to the cabin by security and a guard was posted. They got a stern letter from the Captain.

 

The father had the nerve to demand his money back when it was his family who brought the disease aboard. And he wanted compensation because he was embarrassed at the gangway when he was refused permission to get off in Cozumel. There were several hundred cases that cruise and many spring breaks were ruined and this guy actually thought he should get compensated. They should have charged him.

 

Hhhmmm... I made a comment along this lines early in the thread. It's sad, but not surprising.

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Forums mobile app

[ATC cruiser]

Our grocery store provides sanitizing wipes where the carts are located. I am amazed at the numbers of people who don't use them. I use several and wipe the handles as well as the area were people sit their kids. I also don't put anything that I am buying in the area where the babies and toddlers sit. I don't want the contents of their diapers on our food.

 

 

Your not very adventurous are you :-)

 

 

Aft Cabins Rule

[Redrobo]

Ebola isn't new it's been killing people for about forty years. Fortunately very few outside of Africa. Recently an effected nurse who was treated and recovered has returned to West Africa to continue working out there. I am sure if he felt it was a chance of catching it again he may well have decided not to go.

 

There is a famous line from Dads Army. "don't panic, Don't panic". Appropriate? Maybe

[crookedhalo]

Just spoke w/RCCL to cancel (yes, Ebola was an initial concern, but when half of your staff gets fired two months out from your trip, that quickly takes precedence) and the agent I worked with gave me a bit of detail on what they will be doing as an enhanced boarding procedure.

 

There will be roaming medical staff looking for signs of sickness, they will be taking non-contact temperatures and they are going to refuse boarding to anyone whose passport indicates they traveled to any of the infected countries in the last 21 days.

 

Big hole in this plan is if they are American Citizens, they do not have to use a passport to board, so how would they know?

 

Safe travels all - I'll just have to look forward to my 2016 trip;)

[BND]

Just spoke w/RCCL to cancel (yes, Ebola was an initial concern, but when half of your staff gets fired two months out from your trip, that quickly takes precedence) and the agent I worked with gave me a bit of detail on what they will be doing as an enhanced boarding procedure.

 

There will be roaming medical staff looking for signs of sickness, they will be taking non-contact temperatures and they are going to refuse boarding to anyone whose passport indicates they traveled to any of the infected countries in the last 21 days.

 

Big hole in this plan is if they are American Citizens, they do not have to use a passport to board, so how would they know?

 

Safe travels all - I'll just have to look forward to my 2016 trip;)

 

Customs and border patrol know who has traveled and where. They don't just go by stamps in a passport. There are electronic records. So, not a hole. They can flag individuals just like they do for other issues (warrants for example).

 

West Africa is not a place that many people go to. It's relief organizations and missionary groups that go which represent a very, very small number of the US population. Dulles airport expects 150 people per day arriving from one of the affected countries and so far they have found zero infected.

 

I'm cruising in 13 days and I'll be able to report back anything that is done. I guess all those people that print out the health form ahead of time will have to wait and fill it out at the port, which is how it should be done anyway.

 

Today is 21 days for Duncan's family, none of which were infected after having much closer contact with him than you ever will with someone on a cruise ship.

Edited October 19, 2014 by BND

[ATC cruiser]

It's getting to the point you can't even throw up on the side of the road anymore. What's going to happen when a ship runs into rough seas and people get sea sick. People will be jumping overboard for sure. God help the next ship that has a Noro outbreak.

 

 

Aft Cabins Rule

[vickila]

Crooked Halo. What does this mean?

 

 

Just spoke w/RCCL to cancel (yes, Ebola was an initial concern, but when half of your staff gets fired two months out from your trip, that quickly takes precedence) and the agent I worked with gave me a bit of detail on what they will be doing as an enhanced boarding procedure.

 

 

Please explain. Vicki

[luvtheships]

You better not go to a grocery store either, those shopping cart handles can be a real germ factory.

 

 

Aft Cabins Rule

 

Well that is absolutely true. I always shop early am and always take a cart that has been outside overnight

 

Yes I know I am a fear monger for doing this.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[luvtheships]

Customs and border patrol know who has traveled and where. They don't just go by stamps in a passport. There are electronic records. So, not a hole. They can flag individuals just like they do for other issues (warrants for example).

 

West Africa is not a place that many people go to. It's relief organizations and missionary groups that go which represent a very, very small number of the US population. Dulles airport expects 150 people per day arriving from one of the affected countries and so far they have found zero infected.

 

I'm cruising in 13 days and I'll be able to report back anything that is done. I guess all those people that print out the health form ahead of time will have to wait and fill it out at the port, which is how it should be done anyway.

 

Today is 21 days for Duncan's family, none of which were infected after having much closer contact with him than you ever will with someone on a cruise ship.

 

Good to know it is 21 days for the family

 

Did they report it somewhere that none of them have symptoms?

 

I only ask because very little has been reported so you must have heard this somewhere

 

Thanks for the update

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[tigger1968]

OK, one serious note and one light hearted note to share.

 

Here is what we know so far, 2 people have contracted it in the USA (both of them were treating patient zero). There are about 390 million people in North America. That makes an infection rate of 0.0000000051%...and that was 100% due to direct intentional contact with patient zero. The other confirmed cases were all contracted in Liberia and taken to USA for treatment (3 of them have been discharged and are walking amongst us). It is a slow week on CNN so it's being pumped up.

 

 

Now, in order to avoid getting Ebola please follow these essential rules

 

 

1) No french kissing strangers :p

2) I know it looks tasty and you want to try it but keep your hands OFF MY COCKTAIL...MINE! Get your own! :D

3) See rule 2 for food.

4) If anyone sneezes or coughs, throw them overboard just in case!

 

this has been a public service announcement from your friendly (and slightly warp minded) fellow cruiser

 

ok, so sarcasm aside here are two basic ones that so many people ignore

 

5) If you sneeze or cough...DO IT IN YOUR ARM...NOT HAND. So many people sneeze on their hands and then pick up the serving spoon in the buffet. YUK!

6) Wash your hands with soap often.

[BND]

Good to know it is 21 days for the family

 

Did they report it somewhere that none of them have symptoms?

 

I only ask because very little has been reported so you must have heard this somewhere

 

Thanks for the update

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

I saw a news report earlier stating today is day 21 and no one has reported anything and that as of midnight, they're done.

 

Here's one story of several when I googled: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Ebola-Victims-Family-Prepares-to-Leave-Quarantine-279633312.html

 

And here's one from the AP: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/10/friends-family-of-thomas-eric-duncan-reach-21-day-ebola-incubation-milestone-108231.html

Edited October 19, 2014 by BND

[cruzinlady1947]

 

My local market here in Texas H.E.B. offers sanitary wipes outside by the carts so you can sanitize the handles! I appreciate this as I too consider this particular thing one of the worst to spread germs!

Yes, and I have seen many babies teething (chewing) on the handles of those carts......:eek: Makes me cringe!!!!

 

 

Gwen :)

[A2Mich]

Yes, and I have seen many babies teething (chewing) on the handles of those carts......:eek: Makes me cringe!!!!

 

 

Gwen :)

 

 

Even some Wal Marts have them. There are a few companies that make machines that automatically wash and sanitize shopping carts, in a similar fashion to an automatic drive through car wash, whereby the carts are pushed through and rinsed and then sprayed with a sanitizing solution. However, to be effective, this would have to be done after every single use. Though I have to say that I've only seen these machines at two stores.

[cdwh1902]

I just watched an interview with Medecins Sans Frontieres Doctor in West Africa. He made two important points, They have had over 4,500 deaths, but there have been 19,000 people diagnosed with Ebola. The main reason for the high infection rate is due to tribal burial customs whereby they wash the body of the deceased then drink the water. It is part of their spiritual beliefs. Many believe that what is happening is voodoo and are weary of medical personnel.

 

I'm sure that is not the case in the western world and we need start to stop the scare mongering which is happening. The good news about Duncan's family - especially his fiancée proves my point.

[beachlover777]

I saw an interesting report on the news today that really made a bit more sense to me, and set my mind at ease a bit. It basically stated how in places like Liberia, these infected Ebola patients still live in the home with family to care for them, hence infecting more people. Hopefully if these few people stay in quarantine and no others come to the US, then we won't end up having an epidemic.

 

I also saw something that made me laugh. It was a meme that read, "More Americans have married Kim Kardashian than died from Ebola." Hopefully people will be more cautious, sanitize more, stay home when sick, and we won't have to worry about Ebola, the enterovirus d68, or anything else while on vacation!