Fears of Norovirus mar last day of cruise to Cuba

Fears of Norovirus mar last day of cruise to Cuba
Sun Sentinel

ABOARD THE ADONIA On the last full day of a ballyhooed cruise from Miami
to Cuba, passengers and crew on Saturday tried to deal with an outbreak
of suspected Norovirus.

Carnival Corp. officials said 14 passengers had reported symptoms but
all had recovered.

"We suspect that the virus may have been inadvertently introduced on
board by embarking travelers," read a letter signed by the Adonia's
medical director and delivered to passengers about 1 p.m. "Norovirus, as
you are now aware, is extremely contagious and easily transmitted from
person to person, especially if meticulous attention is not paid to
personal hygiene."

Norovirus, an acute form of gastroenteritis, is the most common cause of
food-borne disease outbreaks in the United States, according to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms include diarrhea,
vomiting and stomach cramps.

Although the virus is often associated with cruise ships, it can spread
anywhere where people are in close quarters, such as schools and nursing
homes.

The ship's doctor did not test for the illness in-house but Carnival
officials said they plan to take the samples they have for outside testing.


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One of those who reported symptoms was Kathleen McGrann, a former public
health social worker from Philadelphia. She said she was told to
immediately go to her room and stay there.

"I think it was something I ate," said McGrann, 75, who added she felt
fine later in the afternoon.

McGrann was visited by the ship's nurse, had her room disinfected by a
masked sanitation crew, and was asked to provide, if possible, a stool
sample.

She said after a bout of diarrhea she had nothing left to give.

"I wish I had never said anything," said McGrann. "I would have been
crushed if this had happened yesterday and made me miss seeing Santiago."

Around the pool on the ship's ninth deck, there was little outward sign
of concern from the ship's 700 guests. Indeed, activities went on as
usual on the cruise, the first from the U.S. to Cuba in nearly 40 years.

"I am not alarmed as either a physician or a passenger," said Thomas
Thurman, 74, of St. Augustine, a veteran of about 20 cruises who sat
reading on deck."The extra precaution I might take would be
hand-washing, maybe a couple of showers."

The Adonia is scheduled to arrive 7 a.m. Sunday at PortMiami.

mwclary@tribune.com

Source: Fears of Norovirus mar last day of cruise to Cuba - Sun Sentinel
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