Read the full article on KETV 7
More than 100 fall ill from norovirus outbreak aboard cruise ship bound for Florida
YEAR PROBATION. FIVE ON YOUR HEALTH TONIGHT, A NATIONAL SURGE OF THE STOMACH FLU. YUCK. LOCAL HOSPITALS ARE TELLING US THEY’RE SEEING A SHARP INCREASE IN CASES HERE, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE THIS MAN RIGHT HERE, DOCTOR TODD ELLERIN. WE CALL IT THE STOMACH FLU. IT’S NOT REALLY THE FLU. IT’S NOT THE FLU, RIGHT? THE FLU IS REALLY INFLUENZA. BUT LIKE THE FLU, IT COMES ON SUDDENLY AND IT’S RESPONSIBLE. NOROVIRUS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 50% OF CASES OF GASTROENTERITIS. YOU KNOW, THE NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA, BELLY CRAMPS. SO IT’S VERY COMMON. AND IT’S EXPLOSIVE. EXPLOSIVE. SO SOME CASES OF NOROVIRUS ARE REALLY SERIOUS NATIONALLY ACTUALLY IT CAN BE DEADLY. THERE ARE ABOUT 900 DEATHS EVERY YEAR. MOST ARE AMONG ADULTS AGES 65 AND OLDER. MORE THAN 100,000 PATIENTS ARE IN THE HOSPITAL, AND THERE ARE 465,000 VISITS TO THE ER. MOST OF THEM ARE YOUNG KIDS. SO WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? YOU HAVE TO TREAT THEM. HOW CAN YOU STOP THE NOROVIRUS? IT’S HARD TO STOP, LET’S PUT IT THAT WAY. BUT YOU KNOW, THIS HYDRATION, HYDRATION, HYDRATION, THINGS LIKE PEDIALYTE IS PERFECT. THINK WATER, SUGAR, SALT, ANY TYPE OF FLUIDS LIKE THAT. YOU JUST WANT TO GET THE FLUIDS IN. MOST OF THE TIME YOU CAN STAY AT HOME, BUT YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, ELDERLY, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE DO SEE I DO SEE HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH THIS. AGAIN. MOST DO. WELL, HOW LONG DOES IT LAST? SO THE BAD NEWS IS IT COMES ON. WHEN I SAY EXPLOSIVE, IT COMES ON SUDDENLY YOU’RE, LIKE, FEELING FINE. AND THEN SUDDENLY YOU START VOMITING. THAT’S OFTEN NOROVIRUS. THE GOOD NEWS, THOUGH, THE SILVER LINING, IT’S USUALLY BETTER WITHIN 36 HOURS. BUT IT’S NOT EASY. 36 HOURS IS NOT ENCOURAGING, DOCTOR. AND WHEN I SAW YOU, I ASKED YOU HOW YOU WERE, AND YOU SAID THAT YOUR SON HAS NOROVIRUS OR HAD NOROVIRUS. YEAH, HE’S. TAKE ME THROUGH IT. HE’S HE’S BETTER NOW. BUT HE YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS. HE’S SICK. AND EVEN THE TOUGHEST KIDS. AND BRETT’S A TOUGH KID. HE’S A GOOD KID. NOROVIRUS KNOCKS ON OUR INTESTINES. IT. YOU KNOW, IT TAKES US DOWN. IS HE CONTAGIOUS? I MEAN, YOU’RE CONTAGIOUS, ESPECIALLY IN THE THROES OF, YOU KNOW, NO PUN INTENDED OF THE ILLNESS. YOU CAN SHED THE ONE THING ABOUT THIS AND THE REASON IT CAN BE SO CONTAGIOUS IS BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SPREAD IT BEFORE YOU EVEN START WITH THE SYMPTOMS. THE OTHER THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT WE TALK ABOUT HAND HYGIENE WITH ALCOHOL GELS. THE ALCOHOL DOESN’T KILL THE VIRUS BECAUSE THE VIRUS DOESN’T HAVE AN ENVELOPE. SO WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER, SOAP AND WATER TO MECHANICALLY GET RID OF THE VIRUS. IT’S FUNNY, I WENT AND I WAS I GOT MY CHOLESTEROL CHECKED YESTERDAY AND IT WAS BAD. OKAY, I’M JUST TELLING YOU THAT RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING. BUT I SAID TO THE NURSE, HAVE YOU BEEN BUSY? AND SHE WAS WEIGHING ME, AND SHE SAID, WE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE NOROVIRUS PATIENTS. IT’S, IT’S IT’S BAD. I FEEL TERRIBLE SURGING AROUND THE COUNTRY. SOME OF THAT YOU KNOW, WE DID SEE IT DECREASE WITH COVID PROBABLY BECAUSE WE WERE MOSTLY HOME. WE WERE MAYBE DOING MORE HAND WASHING, THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT IT IS YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH IS YOU ASKED ME, YOU KNOW, I ESCAPED IT SO FAR, BUT IT’S TYPICALLY MORE LUCKY THAN GOOD BECAUSE IT’S THAT CONTAGIOUS. WOW. OUR BEST
Advertisement
More than 100 fall ill from norovirus outbreak aboard cruise ship bound for Florida
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 100 people have fallen ill during a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship bound for Port Canaveral.The outbreak sickened 102 of the ship’s 3,116 passengers and 13 crewmembers, according to the CDC. Video above: Doctor discusses the rise of the norovirusThe symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, and the CDC cited norovirus as the cause.The CDC said the outbreak was reported on Thursday during the ship’s April 28 to May 11 voyage through the Caribbean. The CDC said actions that must be taken in response to the outbreak include:Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, according to the cruise line’s outbreak prevention and response plan.Collecting stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases for testing.Isolating ill passengers and crew members. Princess Cruises said “a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness” during the voyage from Port Everglades in Florida.“We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitizing throughout the voyage,” the company said in a statement provided to news outlets. “Upon arrival to Port Canaveral on May 11, Caribbean Princess will undergo comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before departing for her next voyage.”The cruise line said it implemented enhanced sanitation procedures, while the CDC said sick passengers and crewmembers were isolated and stool samples were collected for testing.Hearst sister station WESH reached out to the company separately, which provided the following statement:”Princess Cruises can confirm that a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the April 28 Caribbean Princess voyage from Port Everglades.We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitizing throughout the voyage. Upon arrival to Port Canaveral on May 11, Caribbean Princess will undergo comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before departing for her next voyage.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 100 people have fallen ill during a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship bound for Port Canaveral.
The outbreak sickened 102 of the ship’s 3,116 passengers and 13 crewmembers, according to the CDC.
Advertisement
Video above: Doctor discusses the rise of the norovirus
The symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, and the CDC cited norovirus as the cause.
The CDC said the outbreak was reported on Thursday during the ship’s April 28 to May 11 voyage through the Caribbean.
The CDC said actions that must be taken in response to the outbreak include:
- Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, according to the cruise line’s outbreak prevention and response plan.
- Collecting stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases for testing.
- Isolating ill passengers and crew members.
Princess Cruises said “a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness” during the voyage from Port Everglades in Florida.
“We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitizing throughout the voyage,” the company said in a statement provided to news outlets. “Upon arrival to Port Canaveral on May 11, Caribbean Princess will undergo comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before departing for her next voyage.”
The cruise line said it implemented enhanced sanitation procedures, while the CDC said sick passengers and crewmembers were isolated and stool samples were collected for testing.
Hearst sister station WESH reached out to the company separately, which provided the following statement:
“Princess Cruises can confirm that a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the April 28 Caribbean Princess voyage from Port Everglades.
We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitizing throughout the voyage.
Upon arrival to Port Canaveral on May 11, Caribbean Princess will undergo comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before departing for her next voyage.”
