As news of a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship continues to make headlines, many travellers may feel anxious about their health ahead of an upcoming holiday. According to Government guidance, hantaviruses are carried by rodents and transmitted via droppings and urine. However, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has stressed that the overall risk to the public remains very low.
Dr Meera Chand, deputy director for Epidemic and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius. It’s important to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains very low. We are standing up arrangements to support, isolate and monitor British nationals from the ship on their return to the UK and we are contact tracing anyone who may have been in contact with the ship or the hantavirus cases to limit the risk of onward transmission.”
Although holidays are meant to be enjoyable and stress-free, taking sensible precautions can help you stay safe and healthy while away. Here are some of the most common illnesses that passengers often experience on a cruise, and top tips to help protect yourself against them.
Gastrointestinal viruses
“Gastrointestinal viruses like norovirus are very common on cruise ships,” says Dr Lucy Hooper, co-founder of Coyne Medical. “Norovirus is often called stomach flu, and predominantly starts with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, sometimes with a fever as well.” Norovirus is incredibly contagious and can spread quickly on cruise ships. “You only need a tiny number of particles of the virus itself to pass it on between people,” says Hooper. “It can also go on surfaces, so you don’t need to touch an infected person to catch it. You could catch the virus by just touching a door handle or tongs at a food buffet, so that’s why norovirus can become such an issue in an environment like a cruise.”
Respiratory illnesses
Respiratory illnesses, such as Covid and influenza, are also common. “Typical symptoms of respiratory illnesses tend to be a fever, muscle aches and pains, coughs, a sore throat and headaches,” says Hooper. “Covid and flu particles primarily spread through the air through coughs and sneezes.” The close proximity with people from all around the world on a cruise ship can lead to outbreaks. “A cruise ship is essentially a small city at sea and you’ve got a whole ecosystem there of restaurants, lifts, theatres and enclosed spaces all shared by thousands of passengers,” says Dr Asimah Hanif, a GP and medical expert working with travel insurance provider Staysure. “Passengers usually come from lots of different countries, so are bringing different viral exposures to the ship. In addition, whenever the ship stops at a port, there’s turnover of people which introduces new sources of infection every few days.”
Sea sickness
Sea sickness can also be a big problem for passengers on cruises. “Many people with sea sickness experience nausea, and some people actually vomit,” says Hooper. “Some also feel off-balance and find that they’re unsteady, even when the ship or sea is calm.”
Tips to protect yourself from these illnesses
Stay up-to-date with vaccinations – “Make sure that your vaccinations, especially for things like influenza, are up to date,” advises Hooper. Hanif agrees and adds: “Check the destinations that you’re going to and find out whether you need any additional travel specific vaccinations for that area.”
Avoid touching your face – “Try to avoid touching your face in shared spaces to prevent that hand-to-face transmission of viruses,” advises Hanif.
Pack spare medication – “Pack spare medication in case your journey takes longer than expected,” suggests Hooper.
Be cautious at buffets – “Make sure that you use the serving utensils at buffets rather than your hands, and wash your hands before you eat,” recommends Hanif. “I would also try to avoid any food that looks like it has been sitting out for a long time.”
Wash your hands – “Simple day-to-day things like hand washing are super important,” says Hooper. “Soap and water works particularly well for norovirus because it actually removes the virus from your hands.”
Pack a first aid kit – “I would recommend packing some simple painkillers, like paracetamol, some travel sickness tablets and some rehydration solution sachets,” recommends Hooper.
Drink lots of water and get enough rest – “Look after your body and your immune system by staying hydrated and by getting a good amount of sleep,” recommends Hooper.
Get suitable travel health insurance – “Make sure that your policy has good coverage for cruising and also declare any pre-existing health conditions to the insurance company,” advises Hooper. Hanif adds that it’s crucial that you list every medication you are on. “People sometimes think they don’t need to let insurers know that they are on HRT, weight-loss jabs or are taking specific vitamins,” says Hanif. “However, it’s important to let them know everything that you’re taking to give the travel insurance company a full picture of who you are.”
Seek help early – “If you’re getting to the point where you are vomiting repeatedly, can’t leave your room or have a fever, then you should seek medical advice,” recommends Hanif. Hooper highlights the importance of getting help earlier. “It’s good to make the medical team onboard aware of what’s happening earlier rather than later so they can potentially help stop anything infectious from spreading,” says Hooper.
