Related Experiment Videos
The agony and the ecstasy.
Mark Flemmer1, Edward C Oldfield
1Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|September 23, 2003
Summary
Cruise ship outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were investigated, with norovirus being a common cause. Enhanced sanitation, disinfection, and isolation of ill individuals are recommended to control future AGE outbreaks.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease Control
Background:
- Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks pose a significant challenge on cruise ships.
- Previous outbreaks have been linked to various pathogens, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent AGE outbreaks on cruise ships.
- To identify causative agents and contributing factors.
- To recommend control strategies for future outbreaks.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data from cruise ship outbreaks.
- Analysis of attack rates among passengers and crew.
- Identification of pathogens using molecular methods (reverse transcriptase polymerase reaction).
Main Results:
- Twenty-one AGE outbreaks occurred on 17 cruise ships.
- Norovirus was identified as the cause in nine outbreaks.
- Attack rates varied, with higher incidence in passengers (up to 41%) compared to crew.
- Identical norovirus strains suggested an embedded source.
Conclusions:
- Basic food and water sanitation are crucial.
- Prompt ship disinfection and isolation of ill individuals for 72 hours are vital control measures.
- Effective management requires a multi-faceted approach to prevent and control cruise ship-associated AGE.