Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content

Investigation Update on the ms Ryndam

This website is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.

Cruise Line: Holland America Line

Cruise Ship: ms Ryndam

Voyage Dates: December 11 – 18, 2011

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 69 of 1298 (5.32%)

Number of ill crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 6 of 574 (1.05%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea

Causative agent: Norovirus

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Holland America Line and the crew aboard the ship have taken the following actions:

  • Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures in accordance with their outbreak prevention and response plan,
  • Made daily announcements by the Captain to both notify passengers of the outbreak and encourage case reporting,
  • Collected stool specimens from ill passengers and crew for submission to the CDC lab,
  • Made twice daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the VSP, and
  • Consulted with CDC on plans for:
    • Informing embarking passengers on the following voyage about this outbreak and the planned delayed embarkation schedule,
    • Providing additional staff and time for thorough public and accommodation super-sanitization cleaning and disinfection during an extended period between disembarkation and embarkation,
    • Disembarkation plans for active cases, terminal and transport infection control procedures, and
    • Additional management monitoring, and documentation of planned cleaning and disinfection protocols.

A CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officer and an epidemiologist boarded the ship on arrival in Tampa, FL on December 18, 2011 to conduct a targeted environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities. Ship crew completed a full comprehensive super-sanitation turn around between disembarking and embarking passengers. Stool specimens were sent to the CDC lab for testing, which revealed that this outbreak was caused by Norovirus.


 
Top