Are you planning a Disney Cruise or any other kind of cruise in the near future?

Disney Wish at Castaway Cay

You’ve probably already thought about almost everything you need to do, like what to pack, what activities you want to indulge in, and where you’ll be eating. However, you should also think about how to stay healthy on a cruise. Cruise ships are contained environments, which means viruses can spread quickly. One virus is on the rise on cruise ships right now, so we’re going to tell you about it, as well as help you do what you can to prevent getting sick.

According to USA Today, more than 300 people have contracted norovirus on three different cruise ships in December. Those who got sick were on Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess on a trip around Hawaii, as well as Holland America’s Rotterdam and Zuiderdam cruises, which were both in the Caribbean. The most reported symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea.

The cruise lines responded to the outbreak with additional cleaning and disinfection while sick passengers and crew members were put in isolation.

Princess Cruise wrap on Brightline train

“Norovirus can be especially challenging to control on cruise ships because of the close living quarters, shared dining areas and rapid turnover of passengers,” the CDC website states. “When the ship docks, norovirus can be brought on board in contaminated food or water; or by passengers who were infected while ashore.”

With norovirus being so contagious, you might want to know what to do to protect yourself on a cruise. One easy preventative measure is to wash your hands often, including after using the toilet and changing diapers, before eating or handling food, and before giving yourself or someone else any medication. One thing you’ll need to note is that hand sanitizer does not do a great job of preventing norovirus, so you’ll want to use soap and water when you can.

Wash your hands often!

However, note that norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships only account for a small percentage of all norovirus outbreaks.  In any given year, there are about 2,500 outbreaks in the U.S. per year. So, it’s important to take preventative measures when you’re on vacation anywhere.

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What are some preventative health measures you take before cruising? Share with us in the comments!