Norovirus Outbreak Hits P&O Cruise Ship

Image credits: Pic: PA

A suspected norovirus outbreak on a P&O cruise ship has left passengers "dropping like flies" with gastrointestinal symptoms, prompting the company to implement enhanced protocols on its new journey. The P&O Iona, which can carry over 5,000 passengers and 1,800 staff, is currently on a seven-day cruise across northern Europe, visiting Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Zeebrugge. According to reports, a large number of families are on the cruise, which is taking place during the half-term break. The captain of the ship made a public announcement on Thursday informing passengers of the outbreak and said that staff were doing their best to stop the spread of infection.

Passengers who are isolating have reported problems with having food delivered, as well as receiving new towels and bed linen, due to staff shortages. The entertainment on board has also been affected, with many scheduled acts unable to perform and replaced with a cobbled-together entertainment program. Furthermore, passengers have reported being unable to buy or get hold of any medication onboard to help with the symptoms, with not one shop or medical center onboard able to supply guests with gastrointestinal suspension medication or replacement salts/fluid sachets. P&O Cruises has confirmed that some guests have "unfortunately reported gastrointestinal symptoms," but said it is currently affecting fewer than 1% of the passengers on board.

The company has stated that it works with global, national, and regional public health authorities to provide proven protocols across its ships. Enhanced protocols will be put in place on the new journey, including guests being asked to declare symptoms before boarding, improved on-board ventilation systems, and increased levels of cleanliness. Passengers on the affected journey will receive a full refund if they had to isolate or were otherwise unable to join shore experiences. The outbreak has raised concerns about the spread of norovirus on cruise ships, with health experts warning that the virus thrives in environments such as hotels, schools, and care homes.

The UK Health Security Agency has reported a spike in norovirus cases, with 6,857 confirmed cases between January 6 to 19, more than double the seasonal average. The NHS has said that hospitals in England have been hit by a "storm" of norovirus cases, with the number of beds taken up by patients with the virus at a "record high." The agency has warned that norovirus activity has remained high this season and is expected to continue rising. Passengers on board the affected journey have been advised to follow strict hygiene protocols, including washing their hands regularly with soap and water, particularly before eating, and after using the bathroom.

In response to the outbreak, P&O Cruises has provided ongoing advice to guests on every cruise in relation to wellbeing. The company has also stated that it provides medication readily available through its onboard medical center and an emergency support number is available 24 hours a day. The incident has highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards of hygiene and cleanliness on cruise ships to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. As the new journey begins, passengers will be closely monitoring the situation, hoping that the enhanced protocols will be effective in preventing further outbreaks.