Norovirus – What You Need to Know

The Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can be transmitted in many ways, but it most commonly with food as it is a food-borne illnesses. These ways of transmitting the disease are definitely prevalent when you are on a cruise ship – an environment where you are surrounded by people in pretty close quarters for an extended period of time. On a cruise ship it is definitely easy for germs to spread rapidly.

The Norovirus can be contracted from another infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. Once infected, the Norovirus causes people to suffer from various symptoms such as cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

While you’re enjoying your time on a cruise it is definitely important that you do what you can to make sure you avoid getting sick. Here are several tips that you can follow to help keep yourself and your travel companions healthy.

Wash Your Hands

You learn at a young age how important it is to wash your hands to keep yourself healthy. When you are on a cruise this is even more important. Use soap and water to wash your hands before every meal. You should also keep hand sanitizer close by and use it often, especially when you don’t have access to soap and water.

Wash Fruits and Vegetables

If you pick up fruit and vegetables during one of your meals make sure you wash it before you eat. It may seem like an inconvenience heading back to your room to wash an apple but there is a chance that someone infected with Norovirus touched the fruit before you did and that is not a risk you should take.

Don’t Share Drinks

Sharing drinks transmits the disease and an one infected person may not know that they are infected at first and would pass the virus on. Although your drinks at the bar are super delicious and you want the people you are with to have a taste, it is best not to share.

Young children and older adults have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to infections, which is something to be mindful of when traveling with them on a cruise ship. Remind them to wash their hands, food, and to not share drinks to lower their chances of being sick.