Mercury diarrhea and vomiting outbreak 1/3-1/17/2009

[Florida Lady]

Does anyone have any further information about the outbreak aboard the Mercury? Received email from friends who were quarentined in their cabin. I know that the number of passengers is now more than the initial three.I found the following on the (CDC) Center for Disease Control website.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2009/jan8mercury.htm

 

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Ship: Celebrity Mercury

Voyage Dates: 1/3-1/17

 

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers: 3 of 859 (0.3%)

Number of ill crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew: 86 of 1842 (4.7%)

 

Predominant symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting

 

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Celebrity Cruises and the crew aboard the ship took the following actions:

-increased cleaning and disinfection procedures,

-sent daily updates to CDC and until the number of ill people returned to expected levels,

-sent public health specialists to the ship for additional support,

-notified passengers aboard the ship,

-notified travel agents to tell oncoming passengers,

-conducted additional cleaning and disinfection procedures onboard the ship and in the terminal and buses between voyages,

-collected stool specimens for analysis.

-CDC will send an investigation team to the ship on January 10th, the staff will board the ship in Punta Arenas, Costa Rica and sail it through the remainder of it's voyage. They will conduct conduct an investigation and make recommendations.

[Karynanne]

After reading the CDC report, I think the number of passengers is wrong...as are crew members. I would think there would be 1842 passengers...not crew members.

[CCCSeamore]

Does anyone have any further information about the outbreak aboard the Mercury? Received email from friends who were quarentined in their cabin. I know that the number of passengers is now more than the initial three.I found the following on the (CDC) Center for Disease Control website.

www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2009/jan8mercury.htm

 

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Ship: Celebrity Mercury

Voyage Dates: 1/3-1/17

 

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers: 3 of 859 (0.3%)

Number of ill crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew: 86 of 1842 (4.7%)

 

Predominant symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting

 

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Celebrity Cruises and the crew aboard the ship took the following actions:

-increased cleaning and disinfection procedures,

-sent daily updates to CDC and until the number of ill people returned to expected levels,

-sent public health specialists to the ship for additional support,

-notified passengers aboard the ship,

-notified travel agents to tell oncoming passengers,

-conducted additional cleaning and disinfection procedures onboard the ship and in the terminal and buses between voyages,

-collected stool specimens for analysis.

-CDC will send an investigation team to the ship on January 10th, the staff will board the ship in Punta Arenas, Costa Rica and sail it through the remainder of it's voyage. They will conduct conduct an investigation and make recommendations.[/quote}

 

Tis the season.

[Florida Lady]

Karynanne

You are right. I did not spot the mix up of numbers in the CDC website. Celebrity lists the maximum capacity of the Mercury at 1886 passengers and I believe 909 crew.

[meow!]

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers: 3 of 859 (0.3%)

Number of ill crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew: 86 of 1842 (4.7%)

Something is definitely wrong. You don't have 859 passengers and 1842 crew!

[CanWeGoYet?]

Even if the 859 for passengers is correct, hard to see how 3 passengers having vomiting / diarrhea would be considered an outbreak. I mean at this time of year, isn't it expected that some people will have the bad fortune to have flu symptoms while on their cruise?

[scottbee]

The numbers are up slightly; (and they fixed the passenger/crew reversal of numbers)

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2009/jan8mercury.htm

 

 

• Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises
  
• Cruise Ship: Celebrity Mercury
  
• Voyage Dates: 1/3-1/17
  
• Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers: 127 of 1842 (6.9%)
  
• Number of ill crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew: 5 of 859 (0.6%)
  
• Predominant symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting
  
• Actions: In response to the outbreak, Celebrity Cruises and the crew aboard the ship took the following actions:
  
  • increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak response plan,
    
  • sent twice daily updates to CDC,
    
  • sent clinical and public health specialists to the ship for additional support,
    
  • collected stool specimens for analysis.
    

  [*]A CDC public health investigative team boarded the ship on January 10th in Puntarenas, Costa Rica to conduct an epidemiologic investigation and evaluate the ship's infection control procedures. The CDC team will sail through the remainder of the voyage. The voyage began in San Diego, CA on January 3rd and will conclude in Fort Lauderdale, FL on January 17th.

[scottbee]

Latest numbers, up slightly

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2009/jan8mercury.htm

 

• Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers: 145 of 1842 (7.9%)
  
• Number of ill crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew: 7 of 859 (0.8%)
  

[Infi]

As expected, our local news channel (Ft. Lauderdale) jumped on this and had a report tonight. They claimed 150 were sick and they would investigate more when Mercury arrives tomorrow. Poor Mercury and her crew/pax. The media sure loves their Noro. :rolleyes:

[roygg]

Latest numbers, up slightly

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2009/jan8mercury.htm

 

• Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers: 145 of 1842 (7.9%)
  
• Number of ill crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew: 7 of 859 (0.8%)
  

 

I noticed that whilst the reported number of cases has not changed, there are additional comments:

 

notified oncoming passengers,

have delayed embarkation for the next voyage,

will staff the ship with an additional cleaning crew in Fort Lauderdale.

 

As we are to depart for San Diego in 10 days time to Join Mercury for the return trip to FLL we are keeping a very watchful eye on this.

[roygg]

 

As we are to depart for San Diego in 10 days time to Join Mercury for the return trip to FLL we are keeping a very watchful eye on this.

 

I could see on www.inletcam.com that Mercury sailed tonight at circa 6.15 pm. Hopefully nice & clean and sickness free