According to the International Mail Association (CLIA), the mail industry continues to grow, the ship is getting bigger and the facilities are getting brighter. It is estimated that around 37.1 million passengers will be boarded by 2025. According to CNN, another disgraceful number in the email industry is also rising, with the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2024 is the most serious year for the mail to have a gastric disease outbreak in more than a decade.
Marine NorovirusCDC data shows that the most stomach problems that occurred at sea in 2024 are related to the highly contagious Norovirus. In December, five ships and hundreds of passengers experienced symptoms. The Norovirus has been closely related to emails for a long time, because the virus is easily transmitted in closed and crowded environments. Infectious disease expert William Schaffner said the norovirus is therefore called the "mail virus".
Schaffner said that the Norovirus can be infected in only a small amount and can survive on the surface of the environment for several days or even a week. If you place your hands on a contaminated surface and contact your mouth, it will cause infection. He said that the Norrovirus often peaks in winter, and the intensity of the incidence varies due to different seasons.
CDC also pointed out that it is faster to find and report outbreaks on mail than it is in the mainland. According to CDC data, an average of about 19 million to 21 million people in the United States are infected with Norovirus every year.
Nevertheless, the stomach disease that broke out on the Radiance of the Seas in the Royal Caribbean in September 2024 was caused by food poisoning of Rosamia samen. In addition, the epidemic transmitted by Silver Nova in the spring was caused by the colon bacteria, while the cause of stomach disease on the Allure of the Seas in the Royal Caribbean is still unknown.
Stay healthy on boardThe CDC spokesperson recommends that passengers with gastric symptoms report their condition immediately and follow the instructions of the medical staff to help limit the spread of infection; in addition, it is recommended that passengers wash their hands frequently, especially after a shelter and before eating.
mail operators have also taken measures to strengthen the control of the epidemic, from isolating symptomatic passengers and crew members to increasing the cleaning and disinfection of affected ships. But Schaffnay said that since the Norovirus is extremely contagious, it is likely to break through the email company's defense measures.
For passengers who are preparing to take the mail, Schaffnay's advice is: First, if there is any inappropriate situation, you should stay at home and revise the mailing trip after the date; Second, pay attention to all hygiene instructions on the mailing, especially to pay attention to hand hygiene. He said soap and water were better than using a normal sterilized paper towel or hand sanitizer because alcohol was not very effective against Norovirus.
Responsible editor: Gu Zihuan