Cruise ship outbreak sickens 212

CNN ^ | 10 Dec 2002

[UKCajun]

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that 197 passengers and 15 crew members aboard the cruise ship Oceana have come down with a gastrointestinal illness.

A CDC field team boarded the ship Saturday in Barbados to gather more information on the outbreak.

"We conducted interviews with passengers and crew members and gathered samples," said CDC spokeswoman Susan McClure. "The investigation continues."

There are 1,859 passengers and 868 crew aboard, according to a statement released by the CDC.

[UKCajun]

Seems to be a lot of this going about. Awfully suspicious in my mind. Especially given:

"Norwalk virus struck back with a vengeance at Cambridge Memorial Hospital [Ontario] this weekend, forcing officials to restrict access to emergency care.

Norwalk Virus Outbreaks Continue to Affect Canadian Hospitals!

[UKCajun]

This is particularly suspicious given the previously linked article:

The viral infection, which usually lasts 24 to 48 hours, has spread across southwestern Ontario causing hospital ward closures in Toronto, Hamilton, Brantford, and Niagara.

The reason for the outbreak continues to puzzle medical professionals, Glavin said. "Why Norwalk? Why this year? Nobody knows." Cambridge hospital experienced a Norwalk virus outbreak a few years ago, but it was highly isolated and passed quickly. The force with which this outbreak has spread caught everyone off-guard and will be a valuable lesson for the hospital, which already has strict sterilization procedures, Glavin noted.

[pitinkie]

Its a Norwalk-type virus..so its not identified. They can get titers of it if Norwalk. Suspicios.

[oldironsides]

Crippling the vacation cruise industry is not so far fetched. That is a piece of the American economy. Check the background of workers on each ship affected and do it ASAP.

[copycat]

These illnesses started in cruise ships out of Miami, correct? If so, didn't many of the Al Queda spend years in Miami? What's the chance that an Islamofascist has procured a job in the Port?

[UKCajun]

"norwalk-type virus" is a TROUBLESOME term I agree.

[UKCajun]

Don't forget the AQ-Canada connection--Toronto etc.

[UKCajun]

Yes. It's economic warfare on the face of it.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

The origin of the first outbreaks can no longer be viewed as coincidental.

[The Raven]

>>Check the background of workers on each ship affected and do it ASAP.


More likely the passengers...

[copycat]

Crippling the vacation cruise industry is not so far fetched. That is a piece of the American economy. Check the background of workers on each ship affected and do it ASAP.

This has occured on more than one ship...one should not search at the ship level. One should check those areas common to the ships...the port and embarking areas, food services perhaps, and access to the waterway.

For all we know each of these outgoing ships passed an incoming ship on that narrow waterway that was spewing viral spores.

[UKCajun]

In either case, passenger or crew, should be a "no brainer" to chase up.

[UKCajun]

Don't forget there are outbreaks all over Canada--in HOSPITALS of all places!

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

And yes, it is economic warfare against the shipping industry. I don´t doubt it for a minute.

[nicmarlo]

How many cruise ships/cruises have now had these infections? More than odd and very suspicious, I do agree.

[DCPatriot]

This *could* be a dry run for something more dastardly.

Even a product of the United States Public School system would know that all these cruise ships coming down with viruses is *NOT* a coincidence.

[UKCajun]

Don't tell me there is no IRAQ connection here!

[copycat]

Don't forget there are outbreaks all over Canada--in HOSPITALS of all places!

Don't Canadians cruise out of Miami also? I'm not convinced these are separate incidents yet, since the illnesses are the same. Perhaps the virus incubates faster on cooler temps!!

[UKCajun]

Dastardly indeed. No coincidence I believe with weapons inspections and war preparedness.

Dry Run?

I think it is a WARNING message from Sadaam!

[shezza]

I was thinking it had to be a food-service or kitchen worker, but you're probably right. How easy would it be for a passenger to sprinkle something at the salad bar, undetected and unsuspected?

These incidences are happening too frequently to be merely coincidental, IMHO. I don't recall having heard about massive gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships before, and suddenly we have, what, six or seven such occurrences (on a large scale--hundreds stricken on every ship) in a matter of a few months? I dunno....sounds a bit sus.