More Illnesses Reported Aboard Disney Caribbean Cruise

Ananova ^ | 11-30-2002

[blam]

More illnesses reported aboard Disney Caribbean cruise

Disney officials say another 26 people have contracted a flu-like virus aboard a cruise liner on Friday.

A total of 187 people have now fallen ill during the seven-day Caribbean voyage.

Twenty-three passengers and three crew members of the Magic were reported ill with a "Norwalk-like" virus on Friday.

The ship - carrying 2,400 guests and about 1,000 crew - is scheduled to return on Saturday to Port Canaveral in Florida.

The sicknesses came after about 275 people became ill on the Magic's last voyage.

They led Disney to cancel the ship's next cruise, which had been scheduled to depart on Saturday.

The Magic is the third US-based cruise ship to be pulled from service this year because of illnesses.

Norwalk can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain and vomiting for up to two days. The flu-like illness is considered to be among the most common gastrointestinal viruses.

Story filed: 02:49 Saturday 30th November 2002

[blam]

The airlines are almost bankrupt, if this continues, so will the cruise businesses.

[Texas Eagle]

Of course the list grows. There's free money to be had.

[Illbay]

Terrorism?

[blam]

"Terrorism?"

Don't know. We have already grown suspicious of so much. We'll probably never know.

[Ciexyz]

Sounds suspicious to me. How timely--just when we're threatening war against Iraq.

[webber]

I don't think it's terrorism, I think it's a virus, and it has infested all of Disneys Entertainment Facilities. The name of the virus is Political Correctness, and only the NON-politically correct people come down with symptoms. It affects active brain cells, and therefore politically correct people are unaffected.

[The Duke]

Pretty soon the only business left in the USA will be NERF!

[ikka]

One Freper suggested the problem was with third-world hired help not washing their hands and following other procedures needed when handling food. Any more info on that front?

[WorkingClassFilth]

All I know is that when I watch the PC tripe that Disney bills as new "Classics," I, too, get nauseous with flu-like symptoms.

[Husker24]

They're going to have to sink the damn thing.

[Grampa7030]

One of the things that the cruise industry does not want public is the fact these types of incidents, though infrequent, do occur. This is no where near the worst outbreak.

There have been far higher percentages of illness on other cruises in the past. When a flu type illness takes root, lots of people living together will get it. It would not keep me from taking a cruise, though I would probably wait a bit on the Disney cruise line. I only wonder why this incident has been the focus of media attention when many others have not been. That, I think, is the real story.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Of course, these outbreaks happen ALL THE TIME, especially in the Fall and Winter. The key to preventing these infections is careful handwashing- but as any male who has used a public restroom in a restaurant probably has noticed, at least 50% (and probably more) folks DO NOT WASH their hands, even when they are going straight from the toilet to the salad bar...

I was in such a bathroom yesterday, and a father and his two small boys used the facilities and left without even a glance at the sink- this is one reason why I NEVER eat from salad bars, or other food that is available to be handled by the public.

By the way, when I was in Special Forces, I ate a LOT of stuff that would make a buzzard puke- so it's not squeamishness. I just don't want to pick up viruses I can easily avoid. (Puking and crapping every 20 minutes for 3 days is over-rated as a fun experience, believe me!)

[blam]

I read a study of the contaminants found on the keyboards of public computers. The most frequently found contaminant was human feces. (YUK!)

[strela]

The key to preventing these infections is careful handwashing

Put these words in flashing, bold type. Mom always insisted that each of us wash our hands with SOAP and HOT WATER every time we handled food. Mom was smart beyond her years and time.

[Trust but Verify]

You're right, this happens frequently on cruise ships. That's not going to keep me from going. Cruising is one of the most relaxing, pleasurable kinds of vacations the average person has the means to take. Unfortunately, we first have to be abused by the airlines before we can enjoy the trip.

Our second one is in January. We can't wait. If we get a stomach flu, so be it.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I think it is a system problem with laundry or dishwashing machines. Somewhere down the line, pressure and/or temperature is not being maintained adequately to kill the bugs, so they live on from voyage to voyage. Look specifically at napkins and silverware.

I doubt seriously that there is a waterline/sewage issue, but stranger things have happened.

[mystery-ak]

One reason I never go to a salad bar or buffet is several years ago while in line at a Country Buffet a *lady* (two people ahead of me) stuck her fingers in every dish to sample, then would lick her fingers.....I called this to the attention of the manager and several trays of food was replaced and he then went to talk to the *lady*.....YUCK!

[vetvetdoug]

Silverware and plates with water spots mean the plate temperature did not reach 161 degrees for at least 15 seconds if a dishwasher was used. Chlorine disenfectants can be used but health officials prefer hot water dishwashers. Water temperature in a dishwashing facility must reach 181 degrees to get the plate temperature to 161 degrees.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

No terrorism. A failure on the part of the crew to practice simple handwashing.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

You're right - I can say from experience that those health department regs as they apply to restaurants are absolutely necessary. Even the hightest scoring restaurants aren't as clean as your average suburban kitchen.

Care to wager on the laxness of standards in determining the hygiene of shipboard dishwashers?