Noro Virus-West Coast

[Lulubelle45]

Airlines are the biggest culprit! And generally most passengers fly in from somewhere, whether domestic or international. Have you ever looked carefully at the arm rests and tray tables - filthy! I use the Clorox wipes on all surfaces. Might not help 100% but can't hurt. You only have to have the Noro once and believe me you never-ever want to have it again! :eek:

 

Its unfortunate you can get NOROVIRUS more than once. The virus has many different strains. Working in a nursing home I've had it. I have never gotten it on a ship as I'm anal (pun intended) about handwashing.

Edited April 24, 2015 by Lulubelle45

[rbt001]

Oh good, Dr. Bruce is back to tell all of us on the Princess board what slobs we are! Gosh, we've missed all the BM advice!

 

So you were the one eating in the buffet line, wasn't it?

[Aus Traveller]

It matters NOT how dirty or contaminated your hands might be. If you refuse to put those dirty hands into ears, nose, eyes, and mouth (and refuse to touch something that will be going into those ears, eyes, nose, and mouth), it is nearly impossible for a virus to enter your body and make you ill.

 

In this age of people failing to take responsibility for their own actions and behaviours, it is heresy to say that most people who contract Norwalk Virus have given it to themselves.

Noro virus doesn't get absorbed through the skin.

 

I agree with the above, although a person could be very careful with their personal hygiene, but they could pick up the virus on their hands before they eat, then inadvertently transfer it their mouth.

 

If there is a "code red" on the ship, we don't pick up bread/toast/buns with our hands and put the food in our mouths.:)

[karatemom2]

You know Bruce Muzz, as charming as I usually find you and your behind the scenes view of cruise ship life and passengers, perhaps you might note that sometimes, despite best efforts people do get sick both on vacations and in real life. It's part of being human beings. And while I'm all for personal responsibility taking the attitude that you can always protect yourself and if you ever do get sick it's your fault is a bit harsh, even from you. Clearly you have never been vomited on by a toddler at 3 a.m. Protect yourself from that mister. :D

 

I'm a real germaphobe and we do wash and sanitize and take all the recommended precautions, but despite that somehow my DH picked up the dreaded Noro. Perhaps he had the ridiculous stupidity to scratch his nose or rub his eye at the casino before he did his scrupulous hand scrub down after checking out for the night. Or perhaps he picked up a bit of contaminated food at the buffet. Shame on him, right? :rolleyes:

 

And I guess my daughter and I should have stayed away from him. Oh, but that's a bit hard when you are all sharing a tiny cabin and one bathroom. But clearly, it's all our fault that we too became ill despite nearly scrubbing our hands raw in an attempt to avoid getting sick. Really?

 

I didn't blame Princess. We suffered through and did our miserable 24 hours and moved on with our life. Was it a bummer to be sick on vacation? Heck yes, but it happens and you deal with it and try to make the best of it even though you wish it didn't happen. We have had a pretty good run of staying healthy on our many cruises and sometimes stuff just happens no matter how hard you try to prevent it. Such is life!

Edited April 24, 2015 by karatemom2

[shredie]

So you were the one eating in the buffet line, wasn't it?

 

Yep. That was me. I was also touching my face, and while I was at it, I was walking all over the ship touching other people's faces, too. Yep, expert BM has got me pegged. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[SingerEsq]

Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with this product or its claims. I saw it on another posting. I ordered the combo (handwash, lotion, travel lotion) and now just keep it in my "cruise" bag. Have used it (and the spraying of lysol on all touchable objects in the cabin) on last two cruises, one being on the Crown. :eek:

 

The wash is fine. The lotion is great. No fragrance. Not at all greasy. Actually is a pretty good moisturizer. So, if it does what it says it does, all the better.

 

http://www.zylastdirect.com/

[rbt001]

You know Bruce Muzz, as charming as I usually find you ... it's your fault is a bit harsh, even from you.

 

...

 

We have had a pretty good run of staying healthy on our many cruises and sometimes stuff just happens no matter how hard you try to prevent it. Such is life!

 

I thought his posting was informative and didn't see it as finger-pointing.

 

As you point out, there are some things that happen... like me immediately regretting and worrying when I caught myself rubbing my eyes while playing in the casino. Luckily I didn't get sick.

 

Glad you've managed to avoid getting sick, mostly.

 

BM: thanks for the post!

[pablo222]

Oh good, Dr. Bruce is back to tell all of us on the Princess board what slobs we are! Gosh, we've missed all the BM advice!

 

I view Bruce's comments as a nice contrast to some of the cheerleaders here.

[shredie]

I view Bruce's comments as a nice contrast to some of the cheerleaders here.

 

I am delighted to see that the BM fan club is still going strong. (Cheerleaders? :confused: Yay Noro? :confused:)

Edited April 24, 2015 by shredie

[cruisequeen4ever]

Though I thoroughly appreciate BruceMuzz's insight into the cruise industry, I disagree with some of what he said on this thread. I am a complete germaphobe. I Clorox AND Lysol all surfaces in the stateroom, wash my hands with soap and water AND use hand sanitizer obsessively throughout the day, never touch handrails or door handles or elevator buttons with my hands, hold my breath while walking past coughs, and I could go on and on. I STILL caught noro a few years ago! It was not on a cruise, though. I got it from a burger at a local restaurant. Maybe the food worker was sick. In any case, saying that noro is almost entirely preventable by practicing good hygiene is categorically false and insulting to those of us who go above and beyond! I do my best to prevent it and am blessed to have never had it on a cruise. I think food plays more into it than BruceMuzz and other cruise line personnel would like to admit, whether it stem from sick crew or contaminated food. In any case, I believe one should take every possible precaution to prevent getting sick. If everyone did, I think there would be a huge reduction in outbreaks.

[rdsqrl]

With the exception of Karatemom's black swan event, definitely one of BruceMuzz's "very rare" scenarios (toddler vomiting on you; nothing you can do about that), if we don't put your fingers where they don't belong (face, mouth, eyes, etc.), we won't get sick. This is Hygiene 101, something my mother drilled into me at an early age ("Stop touching your face" is still ringing in my ears, decades later).

 

He's not saying you're a bad person or a reckless person if you got sick, just that it's most likely because of something you did, albeit accidentally and involuntarily. Why else would one of the first official responses to an outbreak be to keep serving utensils and shared condiments away from our germy little hands?

 

Are BruceMuzz's comments annoyingly condescending and shrilly tactless? Yes, as always, bless his heart. Are they wrong? No.

[srpilo]

I view Bruce's comments as a nice contrast to some of the cheerleaders here.

 

:D:):D

 

Srpilo