Topic: 'Nasty' cruise ship bathrooms linked to vomiting virus

Poorly cleaned and downright dirty toilet facilities on cruises could give passengers the vomiting bug norovirus, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine have warned.

The study examined 273 randomly selected bathrooms on 56 different ships operated by nine cruise lines and shockingly found that only 37 per cent of these were cleaned daily.

Nineteen surfaces were not cleaned at all during the five-to-seven-day monitoring period, including some toilet door handles.

The study found that 95 per cent of acute gastroenteritis problems on cruise liners are caused by norovirus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a US federal agency, 66 ships experienced outbreaks of the virus between 2003 and 2008.

Although the names of the vessels which were examined have not been released, it is understood that 54 of the 56 originated in US ports.

The findings of the study, which is thought to be the first environmental hygiene project undertaken on cruise ships will be published in a medical journal next month. The report criticises "widespread poor compliance" on the part of cruise operators.

Would the researchers' findings make you think twice before using a cruise ship loo?

Very interesting, as we have just been deliberating Norovirus in another thread, and I for one would like to know the identities of the ships concerned,
It is no use for the Boston Uni School of Medicine stating that they have tested 9 cruise lines and can expose them, and then refusing to do so.
9 Cruise lines tested, now it’s getting interesting, I wonder if any of the big boys are sweating? No I just cannot believe that 63% of the American ships tested do not have their cabin and public toilets cleaned daily, I have never had any cause for complaint about the cleanliness on any of the American ships that I have sailed on.
You don’t have to be a genius or a professor to work out that its possible to catch Norovirus or any other nasty disease from dubious toilet facilities, and that is why the cabin attendants on ships catering for the English and British cruise markets are so well trained, and who usually do a great job, and in many years of cruising I have yet to see a toilet on a British ship that I could not use, or was not satisfied with.
Again it is worth pointing out that passengers also do have an obligation, as it is most important for all passengers in any enclosed space and especially on a ship to wash hands regularly with hot water and soap, it’s also not hard to take your own simple precautions, for example It is prudent to occasionally to wipe cabin door handles etc with hygienic wipes, and also your hands on returning to the ship, including your cruise card, as although the boarding officer uses rubber gloves for personal protection he handles everybody’s card and germs can be passed from gloves to card.

There is certainly joint responsibility here as you say. All the systemic cleaning in the world will come to nought without adequate personal hygiene.
It does not appear that Boston University School of Medicine, one of the several partners in this environmental study, has refused to name the cruise ships that were examined. I just read the full article on BUSM's website.
It is merely pointing to this study that was published in the journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases on 1 November, that reported the group's findings of this first study undertaken on environmental disease on ships.
The link is http://www.busm.bu.edu/busn-news/2009/11/02/poorly-cleaned-public-restrooms-on-cruise-ships-may-predict-norovirus-outbreaks/

QUOTE:

Would the researchers' findings
make you think twice before using a cruise ship loo

Do you have any choice but to use the ship's loos??

Are you going to 'go' over the side, out on your balcony?
What if you're stuck with an interior cabin? :D
.

QUOTE:

Do you have any choice but to use the ship's loos??

Are you going to 'go' over the side, out on your balcony?
What if you're stuck with an interior cabin? :D
.

If you can wait, you can always use the perfectly delightful facilities ashore in bars and cafes!! Some of these can make your eyes water - let alone spread viruses.

I have never experienced a dirty public toilet on cruise liners but having carefully washed your hands, you are then faced with opening the door and using the same door handle that has been used by the people that cant be bothered to wash. Where's the gel??

QUOTE:

If you can wait, you can always use the perfectly delightful facilities ashore in bars and cafes!! Some of these can make your eyes water - let alone spread viruses.

I have never experienced a dirty public toilet on cruise liners but having carefully washed your hands, you are then faced with opening the door and using the same door handle that has been used by the people that cant be bothered to wash. Where's the gel??

I buy the small hand gels you can get in M&S, (whoops advertising)! But having seen so many 'ladies' walk straight out without even 'nodding' at a wash basin, at least it's some form of protection.
I also use them on land, because lack of cleanliness is not confined to ships! Regards, Lizzie.

QUOTE:

I have never experienced a dirty public toilet on cruise liners but having carefully washed your hands, you are then faced with opening the door and using the same door handle that has been used by the people that cant be bothered to wash. Where's the gel??

Some ships have a paper towel bin next to the door so you can use the towel over the handle when opening the door, it is then simply just a case of holding it open with your foot while disposing the hand towel in the adjacent bin.
I am not sure how many ships have this set up.

QUOTE:

Some ships have a paper towel bin next to the door so you can use the towel over the handle when opening the door, it is then simply just a case of holding it open with your foot while disposing the hand towel in the adjacent bin.
I am not sure how many ships have this set up.

IIRC Thomsons do or at least they have a box of tissues available apart from the usual drying facilities. Design of access to toilets etc could benefit from some attention to minimise hand contact.

It,s amazing to think that in this day and age that people still do NOT wash their hands after going to the loo I also use the hand gel lizzie better to be safe than sorry

mrs.m

I assumed the article was about public loos on ship's, not your en suite. I don't think you can catch anything from yourself or your partner?