Is a cruise in your future? You may be concerned about recent news stories about illnesses on board cruise ships. Traveling on cruise ships not only brings you into a new environment, but surrounds you with large numbers of people.
Infectious gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and small intestines that can spread quickly and easily in the contained environment of a cruise ship. It can be spread through contaminated food or water, or even personal contact. An infected individual can leave germs on handrails, elevator buttons, and other objects around the ship.
So how do you reduce the risk of illness on board?
- Wash your hands! Frequently. Wash your hands before eating… after going to the bathroom… after touching your face… and any time your hands feel dirty! Use soap and water for the most effective germ removal. If you can’t wash your hands when you need to, think about carrying baby wipes or a hand sanitizing gel in your purse — anything is better than nothing.
- Take good care of yourself! Make sure to get enough rest, despite the temptation of twenty-four hour activities on the ship. Resting helps your immune system function properly.
- Drink plenty of water. Your body works best when it is well hydrated. You’ll most likely be cruising in a warm-weather area, and you may need the extra water to help stay cool in the heat.
- If you see someone get sick, leave the area. Let the cruise staff take care of the mess and the sick person… you have a chance of inhaling airborne particles that could be contaminated if you are too close.
- Be considerate of others! If you get sick before your cruise, try to reschedule. A vacation when you are sick isn’t much fun anyway… and you could end up unintentionally sharing your misery with other guests on the cruise.
- If you become ill while on a cruise, alert the medical staff immediately. Try to stay away from other cruise guests and wash your hands frequently to help control the spread of illness.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, more than eight million people joined cruises leaving from North American ports in 2003! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control works with the cruise industry to help control and prevent the spread of illnesses on cruise ships. Ships that experience an outbreak of infectious gastroenteritis may be advised to make changes like:
- More frequent cleaning and disinfecting of the cruise ship
- Restrict, reschedule, or cancel certain high-risk activities
- Provide stool and/or urine samples to the CDC for study
- Make daily reports to the CDC
More information on the Vessel Sanitation program from the Centers for Disease Control.
More information on viral outbreaks on cruise ships from the Centers for Disease Control.