Friends Warned Soon after Illness Hits Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship

Virgin Voyages has claimed an clear gastroenteritis or norovirus outbreak aboard Scarlet Girl, with dozens of travellers impacted by the health issues. Friends on the next sailing warned about the problem.

Ideal actions have been taken to mitigate the spread of the disease, and the cruise line has informed the right authorities about the outbreak.

Abdomen Flu Signs and symptoms on Scarlet Girl

The most latest sailing of Virgin Voyage’s flagship, Scarlet Woman, has been impacted by an health issues outbreak with stomach flu-like indicators. These indicators commonly incorporate nausea, diarrhea, aches, cramps, and minimal-quality fever, and typically signify viral gastroenteritis or norovirus.

In a statement delivered to Cruise Hive, the cruise line observed the outbreak as nicely as confirming no effects on the ship’s upcoming sailing, departing on Friday, October 13, 2023.

“During Scarlet Lady’s hottest voyage, about 3% of our friends knowledgeable abdomen flu signs or symptoms. Our professional medical crew isolated these tourists, and we instantly enacted improved sanitization procedures including additional cleaning of cabins and higher-contact regions all over the ship,” the Virgin Voyages’ spokesperson claimed. “We are working carefully with the CDC and their healthcare pros.”

Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady
Photograph Credit: EQRoy / Shutterstock

The 110,000-gross-ton ship can welcome 2,700 passengers. In overall, 3% of that potential would point out that more than 80 visitors have claimed the signs, though specific figures have not been introduced. It is attainable some crew associates may possibly also be impacted.

Cruise traces should report outbreaks to the Facilities for Sickness Handle and Prevention (CDC) when 2% or far more of travellers or crew have gastrointestinal ailment if the ship is in the US or within 15 days of arriving. If extra than 3% of passengers or crew report signs and symptoms, the report will have to be manufactured to the CDC even if the ship will not be arriving at a US port for more than 15 times.

This is the initial disease outbreak for any Virgin Voyages ship in 2023 that requires reporting to the CDC. Sailings from Royal Caribbean Intercontinental, Celeb Cruises, Princess Cruises, and other lines have experienced identical studies this calendar year.

To be obvious, this outbreak is confirmed as a gastrointestinal health issues – diverse sorts of which are somewhat frequent on cruise ships – and is not COVID-19 or any form of respiratory health issues.

No Effect to Sailing

The sailing impacted by the disease was a 5-evening “Riviera Maya” cruise that departed Miami, Florida on Sunday, October 8. The cruise visited Cozumel, Mexico and Bimini, the Bahamas, with no effects on port stays or the ship’s return to Miami on Friday, Oct 13.

Similarly, the cruise line has confirmed that there will be no transform to the upcoming itinerary, a 5-night sailing departing on Friday that will pay a visit to Grand Turk on Sunday, October 15 as perfectly as Bimini on Tuesday, Oct 17. The ship will return to Miami on Wednesday, Oct 18.

Scarlet Lady at Virgin Voyages Miami Terminal
Photograph Credit rating: Virgin Voyages

“There is at this time no affect to the impending voyage’s departure time or ports of connect with,” the assertion read through.

Friends onboard the future sailing have been notified of the outbreak and will without doubt be inspired to stick to comprehensive handwashing tips. Supplemental mitigation actions, these types of as increased cleaning of equally staterooms and public places, a lot more placements of hand sanitizer, and feasible modifications to routines could also be seen to limit any disease transmission.

Go through Also: Cruise Ship Disease – How to Protect On your own

These varieties of disease outbreaks, when not repeated, do come about on cruise ships mainly because of the shut quarters with hundreds of travellers aboard.

Guests can take a lot of measures to guard on their own, this sort of as avoiding large-get hold of surfaces as a great deal as achievable, such as elevator buttons, handrails, and serving utensils. Recurrent handwashing and liberal use of hand sanitizer can also be valuable.

Steering clear of overindulgence onboard, staying hydrated, and obtaining plenty of rest can also assistance attendees combat off any sickness.

Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady