Norovirus strikes P&O Cruises ‘Oriana’, extent of outbreak varies depending on who you listen to
Norovirus Image/CDC
A norovirus outbreak on a British-based cruise ship has drawn very mixed reports, from six passengers to 400, depending on the source.
The outbreak on Southhamptom’s P&O Cruises ship “Oriana” was initially reported to have affected some 150 passengers, according to a report in the British paper, The Sun yesterday. In addition, The Sun report notes the ship was chaotic including describing a passenger “mutiny” on board the ship.
Soon after reports from other news organization brought the “stomach bug” total up to 400 cases.
However, the Cruise line paints a different picture.
According to a P&O statement (via Cruise Critic.com), the cruise line acknowledges the presence of norovirus during the 10-day Baltic Cruise; however, their numbers are quite different.
According to the statement, “There are 1,843 passengers on board, the number of passengers with active symptoms today is six (6) (0.3%).”
They report that cleaning and sanitizing protocols have been implemented to keep transmission among passengers and crew to a minimum.
P&O closes by saying, “The safety and comfort of passengers and crew is always our number one priority. As is currently standard procedure across our fleet, all the ship’s passengers were provided with a precautionary health notice advising of widespread Norovirus activity and the health measures to avoid contraction and spread, both on board and whilst ashore.”
England has reported a busy norovirus season as The Global Dispatch reported yesterday.
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