The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more commonly known as CDC, announced this month that the occurrence of norovirus on cruise ships is “rare” and “dramatically lower” than the number on incidents of the illness on land.
The interesting thing about this announcement is that it didn’t receive nearly as much exposure as any of the reports over the last few years about cruise ships with the dreaded norovirus on board as an unwelcome passenger.
Good news travels like a bad Internet connection.
Anybody connected to cruising has either known or suspected this for a long time, yet cruise-line officials are constantly having to defend their ships when sickness breaks out.
The CDC report was accompanied by statistics, too.
With 20 million cases of norovirus on land, every American has a 1-in-15 chance of being infected.
In 2013, there were 10.1 million cruise passengers boarding ships in the U.S., and 834 infected during the four norovirus outbreaks. Get out the calculator, folks…that’s a 1-in-12,000 chance of being infected.
Rarely is another segment of society called to explain why norovirus is in its environment. Clearly, cruising shouldn’t have to defend its industry. The good thing about having to do so is that it keeps cruise lines on the front line of defense against norovirus.
Just where it long has been.
Today at portsandbows.com: The latest in cruise news
Carnival Fascination
5 nights
September 22, 2014
Jacksonville (return): Nassau, CocoCay
Inside: $169
Cost per day: $33
www.carnival.com