The latest norovirus episode on a cruise ship — 172 people ill on the Crown Princess in Los Angeles this weekend — has raised an old story about the U.S. Navy. It’s about how the Navy more or less prevents such outbreaks on its ships.
With more than 3,000 sailors and marines on ships, the Navy adopts the preventive strategy.
Here’s how:
* Sailors are required to report to sick bay if they feel ill
* Supervisors force sick sailors who are reluctant
* If they’re sick, they’re isolated
* The Navy does a “cleaning station” of the ship every morning
* Preventive medicine technicians inspect galleys many times a day
* Sailors swab, inspect, scrub and scour every day
For the most part, it works. Thinking it would work on a cruise ship is a much different theory.
Nobody on the ship can monitor 3,000 passengers to see if anybody’s not feeling well. It’s unlikely cruise lines would designate “preventive medicine technicians” whose sole purpose is to inspect galleys, although regular inspections are common. And having cleaners underfoot all day long throughout the ship would be a negative for people on their vacations, especially when more than 90 per cent of the time there’s no threat.
But here’s the biggest reason comparing naval ships and cruise ships is apples and oranges:
Sailors must follow orders, and there are consequences when they don’t.
Today at portsandbows.com: Holland America's new look
Carnival Inspiration
2 nights
December 18, 2014
Los Angeles (return): Ensenada
Inside: $101
Cost per day: $50
www.carnival.com