While on its magnificent 107-night globe tour, the luxury ocean liner Queen Victoria became the epicenter of an unusual epidemic. The illness sickened 129 guests and 25 staff members with an unnamed gastrointestinal sickness, producing vomiting and diarrhea.
As part of its strategy to prevent and respond to outbreaks, Cunard Cruise Line has strengthened cleaning and disinfection processes aboard, separated ill individuals, and informed present and prospective guests and crew members of the situation.
The ship set sail from Southampton, United Kingdom, on January 11 and is scheduled to return to the port on April 24, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.)
The illness persisted during the whole trip.
Cape Town, South Africa, and Hong Kong, China, are just two exotic locations in the schedule.
The epidemic was recognized by Cunard Line, which activated its enhanced health and safety protocols to guarantee the well-being of those aboard. These steps have been successful in managing the problem, according to the firm.
With around 970 staff members on board, the Queen Victoria can currently accommodate more than 1,800 people.
Travelers should exercise care in unfamiliar places, particularly in gatherings of a high number, according to the CDC. Some important things to remember are washing your hands often, drinking enough water, and getting plenty of sleep. They stress the need to report illness immediately and stay away from others to stop the spread.
An official from the agency said that they were keeping tabs on things from afar, which included reviewing the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.
Following Monday’s arrival in Hawaii, the ship will stop in Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia.
Although the C.D.C. reports that outbreaks of gastrointestinal sickness aboard cruise ships are rare, they may spread rapidly.
A notable epidemic occurred in 2014 when the Explorer of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship, was forced to return to New Jersey early due to 595 passengers and 50 staff members being sick with spells of vomiting and diarrhea.
