On February 17, Norwegian Cruise Line despatched a letter to company who’re booked on the February 19 cruise aboard Norwegian Prima to tell them that two company who sailed on the ship late final 12 months had been identified with Legionnaires’ illness after their travels.
Although the company’ analysis was seemingly not related to their time aboard the ship, the cruise line is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help their investigation efforts.
Norwegian Cruise Line Informs Guests
Norwegian Cruise Line has knowledgeable company booked onboard the Norwegian Prima that two earlier company had been identified with Legionnaires Disease.
These two company sailed onboard the vessel on the November 19, 2022 voyage, which visited Isla Roatan, Honduras; Harvest Cay, Belize; Costa Maya; and Cozumel, crusing roundtrip from Miami.
Norwegian Cruise Line states that the letter has been despatched out because of an abundance of warning: “As you know, health and safety is our top priority. We operate to the highest public health and sanitation standards. We are reaching out to you today to inform you that it has come to our attention that two guests who sailed aboard Norwegian Prima on her 19, 2022 voyage were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease following their travels.”
The letter continues by stating that the cruise line is working with the CDC to help their investigation efforts as a part of their commonplace working procedures, and testing is underway:
“Testing of devices and fixtures that use water, including hot tubs, showers, and faucets, is underway. It is not currently known whether the two passengers with Legionnaires’ disease were exposed from the ship’s water system or some other source. The investigation is ongoing.”
The letter gives additional details about the illness and the way to acknowledge its signs. Norwegian Cruise Line has additionally supplied particulars on the way to deal with the scenario if company expertise signs of the illness throughout their cruise.
Additionally, they’ve additionally outlined the steps company ought to take in the event that they exhibit signs inside two weeks after their voyage onboard Norwegian Prima ends.
How do Cruise Ships Prevent and Deal With It?
Cruise ships should comply with strict pointers to stop the progress and unfold of Legionella micro organism on board. The CDC requires all vessels that sail to US ports to have a complete water administration program. This program should adhere to strict United States Public Health (USPH) pointers, and all cruise ships should adjust to these rules.
One key ingredient of this water administration program is common testing of ship water programs for Legionella. This testing is a important side of the ship’s water administration program and is required to stop the expansion and unfold.
Additionally, all water strains on cruise ships are sanitized often. This sanitization course of is a part of the ship’s routine upkeep and is important to sustaining a clear and wholesome surroundings for passengers and crew members.
Of course, whereas prevention is essential, that doesn’t imply that it’s going to by no means happen onboard a cruise ship. In 2021, two company had been probably contaminated onboard the Carnival Horizon.
It is implausible that Legionnaires’ illness was current onboard the 143,535 gross ton Norwegian Prima for a number of causes. First, the ship is model new; she entered service in August 2022, giving it little time to domesticate Legionella micro organism. This is vital as a result of Legionella micro organism can develop in water programs that aren’t correctly maintained.
Also Read: 10 Reasons Why Cruise Ships Are Not Floating Petri Dishes
Secondly, the ship is closely used, which doesn’t present the best circumstances for micro organism to develop. The micro organism require a particular surroundings to develop and unfold, and a closely used ship just isn’t conducive to its progress. In reality, the fixed use and movement of water on the ship’s plumbing programs might help forestall the expansion.
Will This Impact the Upcoming Cruises?
Although the continuing investigation just isn’t anticipated to affect the company’ onboard expertise, Norwegian Cruise Line has supplied company booked on the February 19 cruise onboard Norwegian Prima with the required info.
If they expertise signs throughout their cruise, they need to instantly notify the onboard medical workers. Complimentary Legionella testing will likely be supplied; in the event that they check optimistic, all medical care will likely be supplied free.
If company expertise signs within the two weeks after their cruise ends, they’re suggested to hunt medical consideration and present their physician the letter supplied by Norwegian Cruise Line. They must also request Legionella testing in the event that they imagine they might have contracted the illness.
Norwegian Prima is at present based mostly out of Port Canaveral, Florida. The ship is working a sequence of seven-night jap Caribbean cruises.
Ports of name embrace Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Great Stirrup Cay within the Bahamas. From April 2, Norwegian Prima will start a sequence of cruises from New York City to Bermuda.