BajaNews - 3-27-2006 at 05:08 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060327-1312-bn27v...
By Angelica Martinez
March 27, 2006
SAN DIEGO ? More than a hundred passengers and crew members aboard a Celebrity Cruise ship got sick with a stomach virus, the third outbreak of its
kind reported on cruise ships in recent weeks, officials said Monday.
The ship Mercury returned to San Diego Monday after sailing to several Mexican beach towns for a 10-day voyage that began March 17.
During the trip, 107 of 1,976 passengers and 24 of 841 crew members suffered a stomach illness, said Michael J. Sheehan, director of corporate
communications for Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Authorities believe the passengers' illness was caused by norovirus ? a contagious stomach virus that usually lasts between 24 to 48 hours and causes
nausea, vomitting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. In serious cases, the virus may cause dehydration.
Sheehan said the virus was brought on board by a guest who had been exposed to it elsewhere.
Most of the sick passengers recovered with the help of over-the-counter medication aboard the ship, he said.
Authorities with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the virus spreads from people who don't properly wash their hands after using the
bathroom.
Cruise ships are prone to such outbreaks because so many passengers are touching the same surfaces.
Crew members cleansed the ship during the trip and planned to conduct a more vigorous cleaning of the vessel before it sets sail again tonight to
Mexico, Sheehan said.
Loren Goertz and his family of Vancouver, Canada, were aboard the ship.
?It wasn't the vacation we paid for,? Goertz said.
He said his family, along with the rest of the passengers, spent much of their vacation time waiting for the ship to be cleaned at various ports along
the trip.
?That ship shouldn't sail. It should be quarantined,? he said.
Sheehan said the ship was not required to be quarantined before leaving for Mexico. He said the cleansing routines conducted by the crew are
recommended and approved by the CDC as a means of controlling the spread of the virus.
Bob and Susan - 3-27-2006 at 05:24 PM
yea but the passangers who are complaining are getting....
$50 onboard credit
and
25% off their NEXT cruise!!!
Natalie Ann - 3-27-2006 at 10:48 PM
A while back I read that there is one particular blood type which predisposes folks to the type of illness spread on cruise ships. Unfortunately I've
forgotten just what blood type that is (except that it's not mine). Has anyone else heard of this?
[Edited on 3-28-2006 by Natalie Ann]
Natalie Ann - 3-28-2006 at 12:21 AM
Did a bit of research on my own and found it....
"...... published research in the Journal of Infectious Diseases that showed that blood type affects an individual?s susceptibility to infection by
Norwalk. ?Type O is more likely to get very ill?, ?People with type B blood are resistant.?
http://www.bcm.edu/findings/vol1/is1/03jan_n4.htm
Maybe oughta check your blood type before booking a cruise. 
BajaNomad - 3-28-2006 at 12:23 AM
Type O is more at risk:
"New research suggests that there is a connection between Norovirus infection and a person?s blood type. A, B, and O phenotypes are determined by the
presence or absence of carbohydrate antigens on glycolipids and glycoproteins found on the surface of mucosal epithelia as well as RBC?s. In this
study, individuals with type O phenotype were found to be most susceptible to Norovirus infection. Individuals who express type B antigen (B and AB
phenotypes) were at decreased risk of infection. When these B and AB phenotypes were infected, they were more likely to be asymptomatic."
From:
http://microbiology.mtsinai.on.ca/bug/norwalk/nor-dis.shtml
Bob and Susan - 3-28-2006 at 05:07 AM
for us simpletons...
asymptomatic = Neither causing nor exhibiting symptoms of disease
Bob H - 3-28-2006 at 05:29 AM
Aren't the MAJORITY of folks type O? 
David K - 3-28-2006 at 07:36 AM
Yes, 0+ here.
Cincodemayo - 3-28-2006 at 11:14 AM
25% off next cruise?
Who in their right mind would want to go again if they are prone to getting sick?