Federal health officials are on the vomit-filled trail once again as yet another cruise ship full of people have possibly been hit by norovirus. Around 114 passengers and 10 crew members reportedly fell ill during a weeklong cruise on the Holland America MS Veendam.
From the sound of it, if it barfs like norovirus and it well, you know sends you to the bathroom in another way like norovirus, it probably is norovirus.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is on top of things, reports CNN, and boarded the ship when it arrived at port in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. over the weekend. Now it’s up to investigators to “conduct an environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities,” as the agency puts it.
If this feels like a particularly nasty case of déjà vu, you’re not alone: Last month not one but two cruise ships were full of people who likely caught the norovirus, first on the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas and then just a few days later, Carnival’s Princess of the Seas limped back to port afflicted with similar symptoms. Again, when there’s vomit and diarrhea involved, it’s probably norovirus.
This particular ship had earned a failing grade from CDC inspectors in September, after officials found various sanitation violations like brown liquid dripping on clean dishes and a fly on the buffet.
“While unacceptable for Holland America Line, the unsatisfactory score is highly unusual and an aberration,” a Holland America spokeswoman said at the time. Failing is considered 85 or lower on a 100-point scale, and the Veendam earned a 77.
“Since 1996, Veendam has received passing scores on 32 inspections,” the spokeswoman added.
Fun fact: Debbie Reynolds christened the Veendam. Wonder how she’s feeling about it now.
CDC looking into possible norovirus outbreak on cruise ship [CNN]
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