How Cruise Ships Can Prevent Nororvirus Injuries

Noroviruses spread fast.  Yet, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified steps that cruise ships can, in many cases must, take to prevent the spread of noroviruses.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program requires cruise lines to develop Outbreak Prevention and Response Plans to prevent and contain norovirus outbreaks*.  A few of the measures cruise ships can take to prevent passengers from getting sick include:

• Increased cleaning

• Stopping activities that are high risk for transmission such as self service buffet tables, where hand after hand is touching the same serving utensil

• Isolating sick passengers

• Alerting all passengers of illness and how to protect themselves

While most people who get sick with the norovirus on cruise ships recover completely, some do not.  Some people get severely dehydrated which can put them at risk of death, particularly if they are young, old or have an underlying condition.

In those cases where a person has suffered a significant injury, the cruise ship may be liable for damages if it failed to take adequate steps to prevent the spread of the norovirus.  If you have been seriously hurt, or if you have lost a loved one, and you have any questions about whether the injury or fatality was preventable, please call the New York City cruise ship injury lawyers of Hofmann & Schweitzer at 1-800-3-MAY-DAY for more information.

*Source: CDC – Vessel Sanitation Program Gastrointestinal Illness Surveillance and Outbreak Investigations