Oct 23, 2006 7:53 am US/Eastern
Cruise Illness May Be Common Virus
PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) ―
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The illness has a quick incubation period, is contagious, causes mild to moderate gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting and diarrhea, and usually lasts 12 to 24 hours, Hacker said. (File)
AP
Passengers on an Ohio River cruise who complained of flu-like symptoms may have contracted a non-life threatening illness similar to the Norwalk virus, a Kentucky health official said.
Ten passengers from the Mississippi Queen remained hospitalized with flu-like symptoms Sunday after at least 36 complained of feeling sick, forcing the boat to dock Friday.
Dr. William Hacker, commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Public Health, said their symptoms resemble those associated with the Norwalk virus, a contagious ailment commonly contracted on cruises and in nursing homes and schools.
"This is a common illness; however, in confined spaces you can have a larger number of people become ill and need treatment," Hacker said.
The illness has a quick incubation period, is contagious, causes mild to moderate gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting and diarrhea, and usually lasts 12 to 24 hours, Hacker said.
Hacker said he expected laboratory test results in the next day or two. A team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined food storage on the boat and found no problems, he said.
The riverboat left Cincinnati on Wednesday and was scheduled to arrive in St. Louis on Tuesday. The majority of the 525 passengers remained on the ship Sunday as it continued its tour, said April Matson, spokeswoman for the boat's owner, Majestic America Line.
Cruise operators were taking steps to try to limit the spread of the illness, including disinfecting door knobs and handrails, setting up hand-washing stations around the boat and serving food to passengers to avoid them touching food at buffet lines.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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