Topic: Boudicca cruise cut short: It's a Norovirus nightmare

You can buy anti virul hand gels. One is Purell VF481. I also saw some in Boots last week, but didn't have time to stop and look properly. I think the hand gels used on the ships are probably anti bacterial and not worth the time it takes to use them. Thorough hand washing is the best way using soap and hot water. We always carry a small anti virul handwash around with us too.

Val

QUOTE:

You can buy anti virul hand gels. One is Purell VF481. I also saw some in Boots last week, but didn't have time to stop and look properly. I think the hand gels used on the ships are probably anti bacterial and not worth the time it takes to use them. Thorough hand washing is the best way using soap and hot water. We always carry a small anti virul handwash around with us too.

Val

From the Purell blurb: Purell VF481 Antiviral Sanitising Hand Gel
Reduces human Norovirus by 99% after 15 seconds contact. Use 3ml of the gel and rub onto the hands and between fingers for 15 seconds before it fully evaporates.

Available with a handy clip attach bottle

How about a sheep dip prior to boarding for crew and passengers alike, a bloke with a baseball bat as a toilet attendant, and a chucker over the sider for them who don't comply..........sorted.

QUOTE:

How about a sheep dip prior to boarding for crew and passengers alike, a bloke with a baseball bat as a toilet attendant, and a chucker over the sider for them who don't comply..........sorted.

Or else these showers that radioactive workers have to go through that scrub you with carbolic - would that work :D

On Thomson Celebration in January there was no hot water available in the public washrooms. This can't be right so I checked NHS direct and guess what, they don't mention hot water! In fact if water was hot enough to kill the virus you would scald your hands. What you need to do is wash off the viral particles so it is a good wash and rinse including between the fingers and under the nails.

Sparten mentions that the virus could be airbourne. I have often wondered, maybe stupidly, could the air conditioning have something to do with the rapid and constant spread? Wasn't Legionnaires Disease something to do with air conditioning?I have no medical knowledge, it,s just a thought.

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Sparten mentions that the virus could be airbourne. I have often wondered, maybe stupidly, could the air conditioning have something to do with the rapid and constant spread? Wasn't Legionnaires Disease something to do with air conditioning?I have no medical knowledge, it,s just a thought.

Yes it is. That's my brothers area of expertise along side Asbestos Surveying and sampling.

I always remember his main piece of advice when I used to travel to hotels early season ~ put the shower head in a plastic bag then run the water to stop it becoming airbourne & to flush the loo a few times with the lid down.

That is very true for Legionnaires Disease, as it loves the warm moist conditions in shower heads. I always run my shower in any hotel or cruise ship for at least 10 minutes before I get into it.

As for Norovirus, the reason soap and water is the best defence is because it actually "rubs" the virus off your hands. You need to wash your hands with soap and water and paying particular attention to your thumb, inside of fingers and palms for the time it takes you to hum the whole of "Happy Birthday To You" TWICE - under your breath of course!! Can you imagine the scene in the Ladies Loo if everyone sang it out loud??? LOL! :D:D
You should always wash your hands before eating, even if you haven't been to the Loo.
That is the current advice to Doctors and Nurses from Infection Control.

As for the virus itself, it is most infectious from the airborne "spores" of an infected person's vomit. If you breathe these tiny droplets in, you will almost certainly be infected. You can also be re-infected within about 10 weeks of a previous infection, as the virus mutates quickly.

The anti-viral gel helps, but is no substitute for washing your hands thoroughly.

Please remember that although unpleasant, Norovirus is not a serious infection and will usually pass within 48 hours. You should not generally need to consult your GP if on land, and Paracetamol for fever and abdominal cramps is usually all that is required. It is important to keep your fluid intake up and sometimes rehydration salts are required if the vomiting is severe.

I always take a few pairs of latex gloves and anti-viral gel and go over all the door handles, hard surfaces, phone, taps, toilet seat and flush handle as soon as I get to our cabin. My OH (also a doctor!) just laughs at me, but neither of us has ever had Norovirus - even when more than half the ships passengers and crew had it on our Costa cruise a few years ago.

Hope this helps clarify matters a bit.

BElla -I do all of the above and got it for the first time --last cruise -----but one out of over 60 cruises is not bad !
your comment about airborne spores from vomit --is interesting ---------a lady at my table was ill --and we were all moved - the next day -I had it !!
regards Flora x

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I always run my shower in any hotel or cruise ship
for at least 10 minutes before I get into it.

Isn't that a bit extreme?
That's 200-300 gals. of hot water during that 10 mins. - it adds up!


You won't be able to do that when you're in the Grenadines
because you'll run all of Mustique dry! :D
.