About 20 Norwegian Sky Cruise Passengers Get Sick On Board

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By By KOMO Staff & News Services

Summary

They came down with a gastrointestinal illness after a seven-day Alaska cruise.

Story Published: May 19, 2003 at 10:16 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 24, 2009 at 11:18 AM PDT

About 20 Norwegian Sky Cruise Passengers Get Sick On Board
SEATTLE - About 20 people were reported suffering gastrointestinal illness after a seven-day Alaska cruise on the Norwegian Cruise Line vessel Norwegian Sky, officials said Monday.

When the vessel docked here Saturday, some people from a 376-member group traveling with Legendary Journeys tours were taken to the Marriott SeaTac south of the city near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, said the hotel's general manager, Sam Uchello.

About 20 people became ill, he said. SeaTac Fire Department personnel aided some of those suffering from dehydration and eight were taken to local hospitals.

None were admitted, Dr. Jeff Duchin of the Seattle-King County Public Health told a Monday news conference, though he noted that nausea and other intestinal distress can be particularly difficult for elderly people and those with pre-existing health problems.

Gastrointestinal ailments - the illness appeared to be a Norovirus, also known as a Norwalk-like virus - are not generally reported to public-health agencies, Duchin said. But cruise ships are required to report health problems and the Miami-based line reported this outbreak to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vessel Sanitation Program, he said.

It was not known whether Norwegian Sky passengers with other tour groups or staying at other hotels had become ill, Duchin said. The 853-foot vessel can accommodate 2,400 passengers and has a crew of 750.

Cruise line officials in Miami did not immediately return telephone calls Monday.

CDC spokeswoman Kathy Harben in Atlanta said they had been advised by Norwegian Cruise Lines that illness had stricken about 2.7 percent of passengers and 0.5 percent of crew on the Alaska cruise that ended Saturday. She said she did not know how many passengers and crew were aboard.

"They are taking appropriate measures to respond," Harben said. "They're increasing surveillance on the ship, and cleaning and sanitizing ... the appropriate measures to contain an outbreak like this."

The stricken individuals had been scheduled to leave the hotel Monday and most had done so, Uchello said.

People concerned about exposure to such illnesses should practice good hand-washing hygiene and take care with food preparation, health department spokesman Matias Valenzuela said. Such ailments commonly strike in close quarters, such as ships, airplanes, hotels or schools, and there is little risk to the general population from this outbreak, he said.

Earlier this month, the Norwegian Sun - the line's other vessel offering Seattle-Alaska cruises - dumped 40 tons of raw sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Norwegian Cruise Lines has said the discharge was accidental and not illegal.