Seaceutors encounter their toughest year in over a decade battling stomach illnesses, statistics from the CDC show
Seaceutors encounter their toughest year in over a decade battling stomach illnesses, statistics from the CDC show
Another unsettling statistic in the realm of cruising is on the rise, and it's not a good trend: the latest statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 2024 marked the most severe year for cruise ship-related gastrointestinal outbreaks in over a decade.
Vomiting Woes Aboard
CDC data reveals that the majority of these 2024 gastrointestinal outbreaks were linked to the highly contagious norovirus. In December alone, five cruise ships became victims of the nauseating illness, with hundreds of passengers reporting symptoms on vessels from Cunard Line, Holland America, and Princess Cruises. When an outbreak occurs in CDC's data, it signifies that 3% or more of the ship's passengers and crew showed signs of gastrointestinal distress to medical staff.
Norovirus has a long history of association with cruise ships — due in part to its highly contagious nature, making it easier for passengers living in close quarters on a ship to spread the virus.
However, the CDC also highlights that "outbreaks are detected and reported more quickly on a cruise ship than on land" due to reporting protocols. Furthermore, norovirus is also prevalent on land, with the CDC estimating around 19-21 million instances of norovirus reported in the US every year.
Multiple Misforts
While norovirus dominated the 2024 CDC data, a gastrointestinal outbreak on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas in September 2024 was attributed to salmonella food poisoning. Meanwhile, the source of the E.coli outbreak on Silversea Cruises’ Silver Nova in the spring remained a mystery, and the cause of gastrointestinal illness on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas’ May voyage was never identified.
Peak Performance
The CDC reported a total of 16 gastrointestinal cruise outbreaks in 2024, the highest in over a decade. In comparison, there were 14 reported outbreaks in 2023.
When speaking to CNN Travel, a CDC spokesperson noted that "while 2023 and 2024 both had higher numbers of cruise ship outbreaks than in years prior to the pandemic, we do not yet know if this represents a new trend."
There were fewer reports during the 2020-2022 period, when the cruise industry was impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic and had to shut down and then gradually restart operations. According to CDC data, there were only 10 reported outbreaks in 2019.
"Cruise ship travel during the Covid-19 pandemic was limited, and prior to that, we saw that the rates of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships decreased (during 2006-2019)," explained the CDC spokesperson.
CDC data only covers ships under its jurisdiction — meaning the ship's voyage must include a US port, a foreign itinerary, and carry more than 13 passengers. Although this criterion covers much of the world's cruise ship fleet, it does not cover every vessel traversing the world's oceans.
The CDC spokesperson advises cruise passengers who experience stomach bug symptoms to "report their illness promptly if they are sick and follow medical staff recommendations." Passengers are also encouraged to "wash their hands often, especially after using the toilet and before eating or drinking."
Cruise ships also take measures to combat outbreaks, such as quarantining passengers and crew with symptoms, increasing cleaning and disinfection of affected vessels, and enforcing health and safety protocols.
Despite the increase in cruise ship-related gastrointestinal outbreaks, the CDC emphasizes the importance of travel, stating, "Cruise ship travel can be enjoyable and safe when appropriate precautions are taken."
In response to the rising number of outbreaks in 2024, many cruise lines have enhanced their sanitation and health protocols to ensure a safer journey for their passengers.