Norovirus and Cruise Ships

[mtnhappy]

I came across this information regarding the norovirus and cruise ships and thought other newbies might find it helpful.

 

Green Sheet Report:

 

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/vsp/InspectionQueryTool/Forms/InspectionGreenSheetRpt.aspx

 

Facts about Norovirus:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Norovirus/Norovirus.htm

 

Certainly a factor to consider how sanitary a cruise ship is....

[Langley Cruisers]

Appreciate the links, however the Green Sheet report is out of date (not your fault) and certainly can change from even one day or week to the next. I wouldn't put any stock in it.

 

The hand-washing tips are good. We always use hand sanitizer but there are many who feel it does absolutely no good. Of course, it can't replace proper hand washing, but it certainly can supplement when used after hand washing.

[Keith1010]

We do try to wash our hands often and for a fair amount of time.

 

What we learned from a medical travel specialist on our last cruise is that the virus will last for three days on say a door handle vs a few hours for most other viruses. So, it is rather easy to pick up.

 

Keith

[Budget Queen]

Basically it is NOT "how clean the ship is". It's how clean the passengers are. This is directly transmitted person to person. And most people have no clue, thinking if they "wash their hands" a few times, they are safe. Couldn't be farther from the facts.

 

Take a look around or in the mirror. :) See those people eating, licking their fingers in the buffet lines?? Taking up and refilling their dirty plates?? Then think about that serving spoon, covered in someone elses spit, has been in contact with someone's used plate?? Then you go and sit down, grab the salt and pepper , ketchup etc. Finally, you eat your food with your fingers- touch your rolls, place your silverwear direct on the table. Guess what, you now have Direct contact with those people.

 

It doesn't matter squat, that previous hand washing of yours. Key for avoiding transmission- never touch your food with bare hands. I don't. :) This will reduce your transmission significantly, but not 100%. :(

[Keith1010]

Basically it is NOT "how clean the ship is". It's how clean the passengers are. This is directly transmitted person to person. And most people have no clue, thinking if they "wash their hands" a few times, they are safe. Couldn't be farther from the facts.

 

Take a look around or in the mirror. :) See those people eating, licking their fingers in the buffet lines?? Taking up and refilling their dirty plates?? Then think about that serving spoon, covered in someone elses spit, has been in contact with someone's used plate?? Then you go and sit down, grab the salt and pepper , ketchup etc. Finally, you eat your food with your fingers- touch your rolls, place your silverwear direct on the table. Guess what, you now have Direct contact with those people.

 

It doesn't matter squat, that previous hand washing of yours. Key for avoiding transmission- never touch your food with bare hands. I don't. :) This will reduce your transmission significantly, but not 100%. :(

 

You are mostly right in what you say but it is not all tranmitted person to person. If the infected person touches a doorknob the virus will stay active for 72 hours. If you touch that doorknob and then put your hands in your mouth, etc. you can become infected.

 

The challenge is that if someone is infected and puts the silverware out on the table and then you use it you can become infected. Same for food preparation, etc.

 

Keith

[Budget Queen]

You are mostly right in what you say but it is not all tranmitted person to person. If the infected person touches a doorknob the virus will stay active for 72 hours. If you touch that doorknob and then put your hands in your mouth, etc. you can become infected.

 

The challenge is that if someone is infected and puts the silverware out on the table and then you use it you can become infected. Same for food preparation, etc.

 

Keith

 

Yes, true. My point was for offering "bad habits" that can be directly changed by cruisers. Unfortunately there is no control over your other points outside of yourself and choices.

 

Add also to my list. Those people who ignore the postings to NOT fill up water bottles. There they go, place their multi drank from bottle, right on the spigot for a fill. :(

 

I was on the Monarch, which had a stir fry, in October. The "raw" meat was for "display", but people were dishing it on their plates and handing the raw meat and veggies selected to the chef. I was shocked, when I didn't see any clean plates at the station. I then noticed that the chef, just dumped the raw meat in a discard pan, and used the raw veggies with precooked meat, heating them all together. THEN, they just dumped the cooked food back on the orginal plate, that had the residue of the raw meat. The person, again, was totally clueless, and happily strolled back to their table to consume it, I highly suppose.

[jjgoo]

thanks for the links

[Keith1010]

Yes, true. My point was for offering "bad habits" that can be directly changed by cruisers. Unfortunately there is no control over your other points outside of yourself and choices.

 

Add also to my list. Those people who ignore the postings to NOT fill up water bottles. There they go, place their multi drank from bottle, right on the spigot for a fill. :(

 

I was on the Monarch, which had a stir fry, in October. The "raw" meat was for "display", but people were dishing it on their plates and handing the raw meat and veggies selected to the chef. I was shocked, when I didn't see any clean plates at the station. I then noticed that the chef, just dumped the raw meat in a discard pan, and used the raw veggies with precooked meat, heating them all together. THEN, they just dumped the cooked food back on the orginal plate, that had the residue of the raw meat. The person, again, was totally clueless, and happily strolled back to their table to consume it, I highly suppose.

 

Yes, we have found from our cruising that we have seen some great habits while also seeing some of the worst habits.

 

The thing I did learn from the medical travel specialist is that one of the most important things that we can all do is wash hands throroughly and often and not put our hands in our mouth, etc. And, to take precaution when it comes to certain food, water, etc.

 

But unfortunately sometimes even with the best of practices getting this virus cannot be avoided which is why it is important that if someone does contract this virus that they seek medical help right away and do what they are told so as not to infect others.

 

Keith

[qiangf2]

Take a look around or in the mirror. :) See those people eating, licking their fingers in the buffet lines?? Taking up and refilling their dirty plates?? Then think about that serving spoon, covered in someone elses spit, has been in contact with someone's used plate?? Then you go and sit down, grab the salt and pepper , ketchup etc. Finally, you eat your food with your fingers- touch your rolls, place your silverwear direct on the table. Guess what, you now have Direct contact with those people.

 

 

 

hm.. I'd better not look at other people so I can still enjoy my meal. :)

[Italy52]

Let me add another place to exhibit caution - the casinos. I was sitting next to a person who sneezed and hacked all over the slot machine - grossed me out so much that I had to leave. No place is safe in my opinion so please, for the sake of yourself and your fellow passengers, wash your hands frequently.

[Chat Noir]

Some 'rules' my family lives by, onboard or otherwise.

 

Wash, wash, wash, your hands!

Keep hands out of mouth, away from eyes, nose, and any broken skin.

Use paper towels to turn off water and open doors in public restrooms.

Don't eat 'finger foods' with the same hand you use to dip foods at buffets.

Cough into a tissue, or at least cover your mouth with your sleeve, not your hand unless you can wash immediately.

Carry individual handwipes if possible.

 

Maybe I'm a bit of a germ-phob, a side effect of my career. However, bacteria and virus' are everywhere, some normal and beneficial, some pathogenic... we just try to avoid the bad as best we can... while still thoroughly enjoying cruising.

[knorrisb07]

Some 'rules' my family lives by, onboard or otherwise.

 

Wash, wash, wash, your hands!

Keep hands out of mouth, away from eyes, nose, and any broken skin.

Use paper towels to turn off water and open doors in public restrooms.

Don't eat 'finger foods' with the same hand you use to dip foods at buffets.

Cough into a tissue, or at least cover your mouth with your sleeve, not your hand unless you can wash immediately.

Carry individual handwipes if possible.

 

Maybe I'm a bit of a germ-phob, a side effect of my career. However, bacteria and virus' are everywhere, some normal and beneficial, some pathogenic... we just try to avoid the bad as best we can... while still thoroughly enjoying cruising.

 

That's a great list. thank you

[jerry20001]

I divide my time between Alaska and Mexico and always carry a pocket sized hand sanitizer. It amazes me how often I see tourists violate the most basic rules of personal hygiene, what your mother taught you to always wash your hands before eating.

 

In Mexico I have seen people reach down and pet a stray street dog (which I wouldn't touch period) and then pick up their sandwich and continue eating. When they get sick it is the restaurant's fault and people are always so paranoid about drinking the water! In traditional Mexico, it is always considered polite to wash your hands before sitting down at the table. Many "old fashioned" family restaurants in Mexico have a wash basin, sometimes in primitive places only a bucket of water in the front. It is a part of the culture of dining, don't sit down ay my clean table with dirty hands.

 

Anytime you are in close contact with large numbers of people in a closed environment you are at risk. In my opinion airplanes are the absolute worst. Norwalk is a particularly tough virus. I have managed to avoid contracting Norwalk the last five years working in Skagway by following the basic rules mentioned. I might wash my hands twenty times a day.