CDC Seeks Shipboard Poisoning Link
Bob Newman
Correspondent
What researchers have called a Norwalk-like Virus (NLV) aboard the Holland America Line cruise ship Amsterdam began afflicting passengers last month and passengers aboard the Disney Cruise Line vessel Magic reported a similar illness this week.
More than 500 people aboard the Amsterdam have fallen ill on four voyages since mid-October, and more than 100 people became sick on the Magic beginning Wednesday. In all cases, the most commonly reported symptoms were diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
Adding to the questions is the fact that the two ships operate out of two different ports that are roughly 200 miles apart.
Dave Forney, who runs the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program, told CNSNews.com, "The Amsterdam sails out of Port Everglades, which is in Fort Lauderdale, and the Magic sails out of Port Canaveral, which is up by Orlando. At this point we don't see a clear link between the two ships, but we have to be sure."
When asked if the ships use the same vendors or if there was any other apparent connection between the Amsterdam and Magic, Forney said he was not aware of any.
While the CDC is already aboard the Amsterdam, officials aren't expected to board the Magic until the morning of Saturday, Nov. 23.
Holland America points out that Norwalk-like Virus is transmitted "person to person" and has symptoms very similar to stomach flu, although NLV is not a flu strain.
On its Internet website, Holland America states that, "NLV is currently circulating in North America and Europe. Often referred to as the 'stomach flu... it typically runs its course in 24 to 48 hours. Only the common cold is reported more frequently."
However, person-to-person transmission is not the only way in which the disease can be spread. The Cantonal Food Laboratory in Switzerland notes, "NLVs are transmitted by the fecal-oral and the aerosol route and are the most common cause of outbreaks of nonbacterial gastroenteritis."
The laboratory also estimates that NLVs constitute "67 percent of all illnesses caused by known food borne pathogens and for 96 percent of nonbacterial gastroenteritis in the United States. Many outbreaks could be associated with the consumption of primarily or secondarily contaminated foods."
The Hong Kong Government Information Centre further revealed that transmission of NLV can be carried out not only person-to-person or through the air - otherwise known as aerosol transmission - but also by contaminated food, water and objects, as well as someone making contact with vomit or feces.
A statement from Holland America speculates, "It is most likely that the virus came aboard ship in the form of an infected passenger, who in turn passed it to other passengers and crewmembers," and said the company's efforts to fight the ailment have included "removing passengers and crew with NLV symptoms from the ship coupled with vigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols."
However, Holland America did not respond to repeated inquiries seeking clarification on the claim to have determined that an infected passenger was the source.
Disney's Magic has had similar problems in the past. In June 2000, gastroenteritis struck numerous passengers. The cause, according to Disney spokesman Mark Jaronski, who heads up the company's cruise lines' public relations department, was "a batch of bad shrimp."
Food poisoning from shellfish and crustaceans is not unusual, but Jaronski said, "This problem is not food borne. It's something else, and that's why the CDC is coming down. There is no firm diagnosis yet."
The Magic had 2,300 guests and 950 crew aboard when this latest bout began, with most of the victims complaining of symptoms running from "mild to moderate," according to Jaronski.
The Amsterdam's cruise slated to depart today has been cancelled, but Holland America's David A. Giersdorf, the company's senior vice president of marketing and sales, promises, "The MS Amsterdam will be back in service for the December 1 sailing."
A Disney Cruise Line reservations representative said the Magic would sail on Saturday, Nov. 23, as scheduled at 5:00 p.m. EST.
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