Cruise Ship Docks With 700 Sick Passengers

(AP)  A thorough scrubbing of the Carnival Liberty began as the ship docked Sunday after a virus sickened nearly 700 passengers on a trans-Atlantic cruise.

Fourteen guests and five crew remained ill and in isolation when the ship arrived at Port Everglades, according to a statement released by Carnival Cruise Lines.

More than 530 guests and 140 crew had reported to the ship's infirmary with similar symptoms during the 16-day voyage. Some passengers were escorted off the ship in wheelchairs by crew wearing blue gloves to prevent infection.

Preliminary tests identified the source of the outbreak as the highly contagious norovirus, which had struck several guests just before they boarded the cruise Nov. 3 in Rome, Carnival officials said.

Passengers who fell ill during the cruise said they received over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medication and pills or an injection to ward off nausea in the ship's infirmary, and had been quarantined in their cabins while showing symptoms.

"They brought us 7-Up, bottled water, ice and a diet of rice, though you didn't feel like eating," said Jim Lankes, 48, of Phoenix. Lankes and his 45-year-old brother both got sick when the ship was docked in Barcelona, Spain.

"There were 10 people at our dinner table, and seven of the 10 got sick during the course of the cruise," he said.

Crews scrubbed the ship's handrails and utensils, offered disinfecting hand gel and halted the self-serve buffets after the outbreak started. Even plastic menus were wiped clean, said Pedro Carreras, 51, of McDonough, Ga.

"They served everybody so nobody touched the same spoons," said Carreras, who escaped the illness.

Most cruise activities and excursions continued as scheduled, passengers said, though the crew's illness disrupted some personal services.

"Our cabin steward was struck, and we didn't have anybody to clean our cabin for five days," said Pamela Stupnik of Pueblo, Colo. She said she and her husband spent two days vomiting in their cabin.

A team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control boarded the cruise when it docked in St. Maarten to oversee the cleaning operation and try to determine what caused the outbreak, Carnival said.

Norovirus is a group of viruses that cause stomach flu symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps, according to the CDC. The illness usually lasts one to two days without any long-term health effects. It spreads through contaminated food or liquids, by touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then placing that hand in one's mouth, or through direct contact with someone who is infected and showing symptoms.

The Liberty had been scheduled to set sail again Sunday afternoon on a six-day Caribbean voyage, but Miami-based Carnival delayed its next departure until Tuesday so crews could have extra time to disinfect the ship. Its new four-day itinerary includes stops in Key West and Cozumel, Mexico.

The Liberty, which made its maiden voyage in July 2005, is one of the world's largest cruise ships, with 13 passenger decks and room for 2,974 travelers.

[kim-1319]

Well all I'm gonna say is that its not going to stop me from cruising. I've been on 7 cruises and going again March 2007. 50% Chance it will be on the Carnival Liberty. It happens. And if it happens on my cruise, it happens... still won't stop me from cruising with Carnival.

[dscheidle]

to Alphaa10 - you brought up some good points, but as the article said the infection was traced back to passengers who had the illnes prior to boarding. Unfortunately there is no screening that can be done prior to getting on a ship, or plan for health situations like this.

You also asked why this cruise lines and not others? You are focusing on this article, since in the past year there have been reports of this virus affecting other cruise lines such as Holland America, Princess (yes I know they are owned by Carnival), but also Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. It is not specific to one cruise line.

Why don't ailines have the same problem? I has a lot to do with timing. It's easy to locat a problem on a cruise ship where the passengers are together for 7+ days, but when people are on a flight for 2-5 hours, or even as mush as 12 hours, symptoms may not appear in that time frame. I'm sure people have been exposed, but dismiss it as "food poisoning" or the 24 hour flu, because they don't think about linking it to a flight they just got off of the day before.

It's unfortunate that something like this has to happen, 700 people on a ship with 3000 pasengers and 1000 crew, does seem a lot, but the best the cruise lines can do (since they can't prevent the problem), is quick and decisive action to prevent the spread.

[telescopium]

Well GW Bush sucks, no doubt, but I don't think he could be responsible lol, ya never know I guess :)

What a shame though, I would be PISSED if I saved and waited for a vacation and got sick. Poor people :(

[slbmartin]

What....I'd like to blame George Bush for everything too but blaming him for a flu outbreak on a cruise ship is a bit over the top, don't you think?

[gerryrigger]

Makes me wonder what kind of medical screening and vaccinations they have for new employees, some of who come from third world countries and reside there during their time off. I wonder if employee quarters on board are kept sanitary, if they are properly trained on safe food handling practices, and if they are monitored for good hygiene. It's easy to spread disease, especially those with airborne pathogens, through the ventilation ducts of enclosed systems such as cruise ships.

[sim828524s]

I just droped in here by accident.

Cruise Ships?

People getting sick?

You people are actually discussing this?

You guys really need to get a life.

[mrlib]

I think we can safely blame our president George W Bush for this terrible outbreak. His administration should have known that this was going to happen and put procedures in place to stop it. If John Kerry were president this would not have happened to these poor innocent victims, he probably would have personally inspected the ship to ensure the virus was contained.

[mjv2944]

Most of the ships are manned by people who come from countries that do not handle food in the same manner that we do. Having stricter rules handling the food will help eliminate a lot of this. Taking a cruise in January, hope it works out OK.

[flolake]

I do not recall an era such as recent years when there were as many reported outbreaks of viral syndromes aboard passenger ships.

I have to wonder if the CDC spends more time boarding ships that already have active viral outbreaks VS boarding ships that are empty and performing cultures on various surfaces and so on. Cultures generally are not read overnight and folks don't get well overnight ...either.

Seven hundred is a lot of sick folks. It is time to take a more radical approach. This is becoming far too common and who knows what kind(s) of superbugs are possibly being engineered by repeat infestations. All ship's medical histories should be made avaliable in highly visible medium so passengers might have the benefit of making perhaps an informed choice.

[flolake]

I do not recall an era such as recent years when there were as many reported outbreaks of viral syndromes aboard passenger ships.

I have to wonder if the CDC spends more time boarding ships that already have active viral outbreaks VS boarding ships that are empty and performing cultures on various surfaces and so on. Cultures generally are not read overnight and folks don't get well overnight ...either.

Seven hundred is a lot of sick folks. It is time to take a more radical approach. This is becoming far too common and who knows what kind(s) of superbugs are possibly being engineered by repeat infestations. All ship's medical histories should be made avaliable in highly visible medium so passengers might have the benefit of making perhaps an informed choice.