Media Statement Regarding Norwegian
Sky
Norwegian Cruise Line collects and maintains
accurate data concerning the health and well being of passengers
on board our ships. We learn from others what happens to our
passengers after they disembark our vessels. We know with
certainty that approximately two and a half percent of the
guests on board Norwegian Sky's six-day voyage departing May
11 from Vancouver to Seattle reported to the ship's medical
center during the cruise, with various symptoms of stomach
flu generally lasting 24 hours. This is an incidence level
that falls below the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) threshold
for an 'outbreak'. Nevertheless, we have been in close touch
with the CDC and continue to be.
NCL has subsequently been made aware of some
media reports that more than 300 passengers, who left the
ship healthy on Saturday morning, became ill by Saturday evening
at the Marriott hotel at Seattle's SEATAC Airport. We have
contacted the Marriott and have been advised that to their
knowledge, a total of three passengers - not 300 - were sick
with stomach flu-like symptoms. We have contacted the King
County Health Department and have been advised that to their
knowledge, a total of 20 people reported feeling ill to some
degree.
NCL has absolutely no idea where the media outlets
in question received information that 300 Norwegian Cruise
Line passengers reported ill, and regards such media reports
as what may politely be termed 'unreliable'. Likewise, both
the hotel and the King County Health Department have explicitly
confirmed to us that nobody was quarantined and no quarantine
order was issued.
Reports of mass outbreaks of illness in these
sensitive times is a serious matter and NCL requests that
the media outlets carefully verify their facts before issuing
such damaging and potentially alarming information.
The CDC estimates that 23 million cases of acute
gastroenteritis are due to Norovirus (NLV) infection. NLV
is a common gastrointestinal virus - only the common cold
is reported more frequently. It has an incubation period of
12-48 hours and generally runs its course in about 24 - 48
hours. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal
cramps and a low-grade fever. NLV is not an upper respiratory
virus such as the flu. This illness itself is not life-threatening.
In an earlier statement, David Forney, chief
of Vessel Sanitation Program of the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) said: "These ships are maintaining
the highest standard of sanitation in the world. Cruise lines
are doing everything they can to minimize the risk of coming
in contact with this gastrointestinal illness. There are no
guarantees, but they're doing everything they can to make
sure that this is not an issue"
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