Topic: Gastro Outbreak on Boudicca

I think Fred. Olsen will be glad when 2009 will be over...

They've had a spate of bad luck regarding outbreaks of viruses on board this year

Here's a copy of their latest statement:

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm that a number of persons on board its ship Boudicca have demonstrated symptoms of a viral infection with mild gastro-enteritis on the current cruise.

The total number of persons on board is 1,116 of whom a total of 201 passengers and 7 crew have been affected. At present some 78 people remain in isolation in their cabins, to avoid further spread of the virus.

In accordance with guidelines set down by the Health Protection Agency, staff throughout Boudicca stepped up their already fastidious hygiene and disinfecting regime.

The ship departed from Portsmouth on Tuesday, 22nd December on a 14-night Canary Islands cruise. Ports of call due to be visited are Arrecife (Lanzarote), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Santa Cruz (Tenerife), San Sebastian (La Gomera), Santa Cruz (La Palma), and Funchal.

The cruise will end in Portsmouth on 4th January 2010, a day earlier than scheduled, to allow for a three day programme of deep cleaning and sanitisation with independent specialist contractors, alongside our own resources. This action will delay the start of the following cruise, which will now depart from Southampton on the evening of 06 January, for a 12 night Canary Islands cruise.

Passengers on both cruises will be compensated for the loss of a day’s holiday with a pro-rata refund and, as a further goodwill gesture, credits will be made to their on board accounts. Passengers who have been confined to their cabins will, of course, receive a future cruise credit as a ‘thank you’ for their co-operation in controlling the spread of illness.

The winter vomiting virus is extremely common and ranks second to the common cold. The virus, which is highly infectious, causes unpleasant but generally short-lived symptoms lasting 1 – 2 days from which people will usually recover without treatment.

Good luck for 2010 Fred Olsen Cruise Lines you certainly need a break - We wish you well and hope to sail with you soon.
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Cruisings Cool

QUOTE:

...The total number of persons on board is 1,116 of whom a total of 201 passengers and 7 crew have been affected...

I make that about 25% of the passengers affected compared with only 2% of the crew - an interesting statistic.

QUOTE:

I make that about 25% of the passengers affected
compared with only 2% of the crew - an interesting statistic.

Yes indeed!

Does this point up that crew do a lot more basic prevention?
While paying pax just go along in their own little world of unwashed hands, etc?

Seriously,now...
why this huge disparity between paying pax affected -and crew??
Enquiring Minds, etc.
.

This report says alot about the customers that FO attracts especially as has been pointed out so few staff are coming down with the virus as opposed to the Pax!

Maybe a quick guide to hand washing i.e hot water, soap, as hot as you can stand for 1 min minimum like in the food trades! Not the quick flick under a cold tap and then longer under the hand dryer that some people do!

On our last four Cruises in the last three years, when in the Gentlemans Toilet approx: 1 in 4 passengers leave without washing their hands, they generally being the more aged of the older generation. Forgetfulness, onset of senility, take your pick, I'm 71 and most particular myself about cleanliness, I even open and close the doors using my sleeve or a tissue and try not to touch stair rails going for meals. Touch wood, never been sick on any of our 11 Cruises over the last 17 years. Be careful.

That's all well and good, aloysius, but stair rails and door handles are not the usual culprits for these gastro-intestinal outbreaks.
It's simply the lack of personal hygene and lack of food handling and storage knowledge by the cooks, waiters, bar staff, cleaners and indeed any other crew member involved with the handling and preparation of food or drink. (Cross contamination ? ... what's that? .. I hear the Indonesian waiter ask ! )
There is also past evidence of disgruntled crew members deliberately contaminating passengers' food and drink with various bodily fluids - perhaps this accounts for the disparity between crew and pax infections.
Be careful - yes. But also - beware.

good god Jobo I never thought of that yuk! and thanks

QUOTE:

Yes indeed!

Does this point up that crew do a lot more basic prevention?
While paying pax just go along in their own little world of unwashed hands, etc?

Seriously,now...
why this huge disparity between paying pax affected -and crew??
Enquiring Minds, etc.
.

Could it be the crew eat packed lunches purchased ashore I could be as simple as a change in drinking
Water, a filter on a dish washing machine the permutations are endless.
The most likely cause remains that passengers continue to ignore basic hygiene just spend a couple of hours working in a public toilet you would be amazed how few bother then some notice that you are there carrying out repairs suddenly they run their hands under the tap shake them then open the door using the handle that all the other people who have not bothered at all have used now they can really spread things around.

Excellent behaviours. I agree absolutely. I am sure the Virus is brought onboard by Unhygenic people.