CDC Cruise Ship Outbreak Summary

Gastrointestinal Illness Cases reported to the Center for Disease Control

 

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cdc outbreak summary

CDC Ship Ratings

Cruise ships participating in the Vessel Sanitation Program are required to report the total number of gastrointestinal (GI) illness cases (including zero cases) evaluated by the medical staff before the ship arrives at a U.S. port, when sailing from a foreign port. A separate notification is required when the GI illness count exceeds 2% of the total number of passengers or crew onboard. The data below were obtained from these surveillance reports and from CDC-led investigations. The GI illness cases reported are totals for the entire voyage and do not represent the number of active (symptomatic) GI cases at any given port of call or at disembarkation.

Cruise ship outbreak updates are posted when they meet the following criteria:

• Fall within the purview of VSP (see about VSP),
• Are sailing on voyages from 3-21 days,
• Are carrying 100 or more passengers,
• Are cruise ships in which 3% or more of passengers or crew reported symptoms of diarrheal disease to the ships medical staff during the voyage, and

• Are gastrointestinal illness outbreaks of public health significance.

Last updated 3/13/2020

2020

Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
Royal Caribbean International Grandeur of the Seas 3/7 - 3/19 Link to the CDC report Norovirus
Holland American Line Westerdam 3/1 – 3/16 Link to CDC Report Unknown
Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess 2/2 - 2/16 Link to CDC Report Unknown
Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess 2/16 - 3/1 Link to CDC Report Norovirus

 

2019

Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Joy 11/8 - 11/24 Norovirus
AIDA Cruises AIDAdiva 10/3 - 10/13 Norovirus
AIDA Cruises AIDAluna 9/28 - 10/12 Norovirus
AIDA Cruises AIDAdiva 9/5 - 9/23 Norovirus
Carnival Cruise Line Conquest 9/7 - 9/14 Norovirus
Oceania Cruises Oceania Marina 3/18 – 4/5 Norovirus
Princess Cruises Island Princess 2/8 – 2/18 Norovirus
Viking Ocean Cruises Viking Star 2/7 – 2/14 Norovirus
Viking Ocean Cruises Viking Sea 1/18 – 1/28 Norovirus
Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas 1/6 – 1/13 Norovirus

 

2018

Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
Viking Ocean Cruises Viking Star 12/13 – 1/3, 2019 Rotavirus
Crystal Cruises Crystal Symphony 11/8 – 12/2 Norovirus
Holland America Group Volendam 11/3 – 18 Norovirus
V. Ships Leisure U.S.A. Pearl Mist 9/1 – 12 Unknown
Regent Seven Seas Seven Seas Mariner 6/20 – 30 Unknown
Holland America Group Zaandam 6/18 – 7/2 Unknown
Silversea Cruises Silver Shadow 5/10 – 5/24 Norovirus
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Infinity 4/17 – 5/2 Norovirus
Cunard Line Queen Victoria 2/21 – 3/9 Enterotoxigenic E. coli 
Azamara Club Cruises Azamara Quest 1/25 – 2/8 Unknown
Princess Cruises Island Princess 1/9 – 1/24 Norovirus and Campylobacter

 

2017

Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas 12/11 – 12/16 Norovirus
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Reflection 11/17 – 11/27 Norovirus
Princess Cruises Crown Princess 10/25 – 11/8 C. perfringens enterotoxin
Lindblad National Geographic Sea Bird 9/26 – 10/2 Unknown
Holland America Noordam 7/30 – 8/6 Norovirus
Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam 7/22 – 7/29 Norovirus
Holland America Noordam 7/23 – 7/30 Norovirus
Holland America Volendam 7/19 – 7/26 Norovirus
Holland America Volendam 7/12 – 7/19 Norovirus
Oceania Cruises Regatta 3/29 – 4/14 Norovirus
Princess Cruises Coral Princess 3/8 – 3/18 Norovirus

 

2016

 

Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
Holland America Line Oosterdam 11/3 – 11/18 Norovirus
P&O Cruises Adonia 10/16 – 10/23 Unknown
Disney Cruise Line Disney Wonder 4/27 – 5/1 Norovirus
Fred Olsen Cruises Balmoral 4/16 – 5/20 Norovirus
Oceania Cruises Oceania Riviera 3/20 – 4/2 Norovirus
Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Gem 3/12 – 3/22 Norovirus
Silversea Cruises Silver Spirit 3/3 – 3/21 E. coli 
Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Sunshine 2/21 – 3/5 Norovirus
Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas 2/21 – 3/4 Norovirus
Princess Cruises Ocean Princess 2/13 – 3/7 Norovirus & E. coli 
Oceania Cruises Oceania Riviera 2/12 – 2/22 Norovirus
Oceania Cruises Oceania Riviera 2/2 – 2/12 Norovirus
Princess Cruises Crown Princess 1/8 – 1/18 Norovirus


2015

Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
Princess Cruises Star Princess 4/29 - 5/14 Norovirus
Oceania Cruises Oceania Marina 4/21 - 5/7 Norovirus
Holland America Line ms Maasdam 4/17 - 5/1 Norovirus
Princess Cruises Coral Princess 4/12 - 4/27 Norovirus
Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas 3/30 - 4/14 Norovirus
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Infinity 3/29 - 4/13 Norovirus
Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Pearl 3/26 - 4/6 Norovirus
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Equinox 2/13 - 2/23 Norovirus
Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas 1/24 - 2/3 Norovirus

 

2014    

Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
Princess Cruises Crown Princess 10/18 - 11/16 Norovirus
Princess Cruises Crown Princess 4/5 - 4/12 Norovirus and E. Coli
Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas 4/5 - 4/12 Norovirus
Royal Caribbean
Grandeur of the Seas 3/28 - 4/5 Norovirus
Holland America ms Maasdam 3/2 - 3/28 Unknown
Holland America ms Veendam 2/8 - 2/22 Norovirus
Princess Caribbean Princess 1/25 - 2/1 Norovirus
Royal Caribbean
Explore of the Seas 1/21 - 1/31 Norovirus
Norwegian
Norwegian Star 1/5 - 1/19 Norovirus
2013     2012

This month's ratings

2020 Monthly Vessel Sanitation Scores

CDC Ship Outbreak Summary         

 

The following links provide additional resource information about gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on land and at sea.

What is Norovirus?

Norovirus is so widespread that only the common cold is reported more frequently. The CDC estimates that there are 23 million land-based Norovirus cases each year in the U.S., affecting one in 12 people, or 8% of the population. In contrast, the number of cruise passengers affected is .028% of the 8 million cruising population, or 1 in 3,600 of those who vacation aboard ships. Symptoms of norovirus include mild stomach upset with vomiting and diarrhea, usually lasting between one and three days. The illness generally resolves without treatment or long-term consequences.

What is E. Coli

bacteria normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. However, some E. coli are pathogenic, meaning they can cause illness, either diarrhea or illness outside of the intestinal tract. The types of E. coli that can cause diarrhea can be transmitted through contaminated water or food, or through contact with animals or persons.

E. coli consists of a diverse group of bacteria. Pathogenic strains are categorized into pathotypes. Six pathotypes are associated with diarrhea and collectively are referred to as diarrheagenic E. coli.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli(STEC)—STEC may also be referred to as Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli(VTEC) or enterohemorrhagicE. coli(EHEC). This pathotype is the one most commonly heard about in the news in association with foodborne outbreaks.

Enterotoxigenic Ecoli (ETEC)

Enteropathogenic Ecoli (EPEC)

Enteroaggregative Ecoli (EAEC)

Enteroinvasive Ecoli (EIEC)

Diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC)

Health officials recommend that the best way cruise passengers can protect themselves from getting ill is to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly.

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

http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/general/index.html

Source: CDC

 

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