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300 get the runs on cruise ship
26/01/2007 11:13 - (SA)
Washington - More than 300 passengers and crew on board one of the world's largest cruise ships, the Queen Elizabeth 2, have fallen ill from a gastrointestinal illness in the past two weeks, an infectious disease specialist said on Thursday.
The ship, which docked in San Francisco on Wednesday, is carrying 1 652 passengers on its 25th silver jubilee round-the-world cruise, a 110-day marathon that costs up to $65 000 per person for the full trip.
The ill, who were struck by vomiting and diarrhoea, included 276 passengers and 28 crew members, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, said.
Lisa Beaumier, a CDC public health analyst, said in a telephone interview that the centre was studying stool specimens from passengers to determine the exact nature of the illness.
Beaumier did not confirm reports that the illness was the norovirus that has been found on board other cruise ships.
The centre, which controls all cruise ships with more than 13 passengers heading to US ports from a foreign itinerary, sent agents to board the ship on January 19 in Acapulco, Mexico, to carry out an onboard investigation after receiving reports of the sickness.
Increased cleaning and disinfection
Many on board are travelling on partial segments. The "Pacific Portal" segment of the tour, costing up to $9 000 a person, began in New York on January 8 and sailed through the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica and through the Panama Canal before heading up the West Coast to Acapulco, docking at Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Beaumier said the ship had carried out increased cleaning and disinfection procedures. During the California docking, the ship was vacated by most passengers so "additional cleaning and disinfection" could be carried out.
Since its launch in 1969, the Queen Elizabeth 2 has sailed around the world 25 times. A staff of 1 000 takes care of the passengers on the luxury liner.
The ship's next port of call is Honolulu, Hawaii.
Sapa-dpa
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