Looks like the winter vomiting virus is making a rare summer appearance.
A suspected norovirus outbreak — also known by health experts as the “winter vomiting virus” — is said to have afflicted 112 passengers on a Holland America Alaska cruise last week.
Passengers on the Veendam began getting sick in Haines, when about 20 people were treated for the gastrointestinal illness. The vessel also docked in Juneau and Sitka before moving on to Seward. Holland America initially denied there was a norovirus problem until it filed a report with the Centers for Disease Control.
Earlier this month, the vomiting virus struck passengers on P&O’s Ventura. Guests on the Mediterranean cruise were told not to use the public bathrooms and to wash their hands regularly, while those affected were isolated and offered free healthcare on board.
In May, the Norwegian Dream also reported a norovirus outbreak. More than six percent of the passengers on a Caribbean cruise — 99 of 1,579 guests — were afflicted by the illness.
Here’s a full list of this year’s outbreaks reported to the CDC.
Will this summer be one for the record books, when it comes to norovirus problems on ships?
There’s no telling. After all, we’re only a few days into the official summer travel season.
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