By Ron Mizutani
Jan 27, 2009
Jan 27, 2009
A highly contagious virus sickened dozens of passengers during a recent cruise aboard the "Pride of America."
The United States Food and Drug Administration confirms Norwegian Cruise Lines reported a Norovirus outbreak on a cruise in Hawaiian Waters. Sources tell KHON more than 67 of the 1,837 passengers aboard the "Pride of America" between January 17th and the 24th were stricken by the virus.
"Norovirus is something that is always a problem in a confined environment where there are multiple different people coming together," said Dr. Alan Tice, infectious disease consultant. "Sometimes the diarrhea can be so bad that it is serious and occassionally people have to be hospitalized for it and it can be very miserable."
The Norovirus is a short-lived infection but the virus has shown up in stool samples taken eight weeks after an outbreak. State health officials could not comment on the case because it is a federal investigation but acknowledged it is assisting the F-D-A. They add all islands are on alert.
"And I think that's an error on the part of the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration -- these matters are serious they should be taken care of -- they should be addressed to the public in a timely fashion," said Carroll Cox of Envirowatch. "Things fall through he cracks because of bureaucracy."
The Pride of America is currently on another inter-island cruise. N-C-L did not return our calls.
"The procedures for Norovirus are pretty clear in terms of cleaning they have special cleaning agents in general that they use," said Tice. "They go around and general do an extraordinary job cleaning anywhere from door knobs, to carpets, to whatever that may be affected pools etc. where this virus can persist for a matter of often days."
In November 2007, about 400 out of 25-hundred passengers were stricken with Norovirus aboard the Pride Of Hawaii, the largest epidemic on a cruise ship of that size in '07. State health officials encourage anyone diagnosed with the virus to wash their hands after using the bathroom. Critics say that's not enough.
"This incident occurs and no transparency -- the public is not informed," said Cox. "If the state health department is involved -- than the state health department has a responsibility to inform the public."
In addition to the 67 passengers, 14 employees were also sickened by the virus.
The United States Food and Drug Administration confirms Norwegian Cruise Lines reported a Norovirus outbreak on a cruise in Hawaiian Waters. Sources tell KHON more than 67 of the 1,837 passengers aboard the "Pride of America" between January 17th and the 24th were stricken by the virus.
"Norovirus is something that is always a problem in a confined environment where there are multiple different people coming together," said Dr. Alan Tice, infectious disease consultant. "Sometimes the diarrhea can be so bad that it is serious and occassionally people have to be hospitalized for it and it can be very miserable."
The Norovirus is a short-lived infection but the virus has shown up in stool samples taken eight weeks after an outbreak. State health officials could not comment on the case because it is a federal investigation but acknowledged it is assisting the F-D-A. They add all islands are on alert.
"And I think that's an error on the part of the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration -- these matters are serious they should be taken care of -- they should be addressed to the public in a timely fashion," said Carroll Cox of Envirowatch. "Things fall through he cracks because of bureaucracy."
The Pride of America is currently on another inter-island cruise. N-C-L did not return our calls.
"The procedures for Norovirus are pretty clear in terms of cleaning they have special cleaning agents in general that they use," said Tice. "They go around and general do an extraordinary job cleaning anywhere from door knobs, to carpets, to whatever that may be affected pools etc. where this virus can persist for a matter of often days."
In November 2007, about 400 out of 25-hundred passengers were stricken with Norovirus aboard the Pride Of Hawaii, the largest epidemic on a cruise ship of that size in '07. State health officials encourage anyone diagnosed with the virus to wash their hands after using the bathroom. Critics say that's not enough.
"This incident occurs and no transparency -- the public is not informed," said Cox. "If the state health department is involved -- than the state health department has a responsibility to inform the public."
In addition to the 67 passengers, 14 employees were also sickened by the virus.
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