Cruise Ship Virus Not Immediately a Kodiak Problem

Maggie Wall/KMXT

A recent outbreak of a flu-like virus onboard a Princess Cruise ship sailing in southeast Alaska is no cause for concern for Kodiak or the people on Kodiak-bound ships.

So says Janet Buckingham who is the executive director of the Kodiak Island Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.

— (Cruise Crud 1 :31 "Well I have heard … were notified.)

Princess Cruises says 142 people became ill on the Sea Princess during the ship’s May 30 to June 9 cruise, which visited Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan.

The norovirus, which caused the outbreak, is a common gastrointestinal illness that causes diarrhea and vomiting:

— (Cruise Crud 2 :45 "I think … disinfect your hands.")

Buckingham says the cruise industry is very aware of the possibility of spreading shipboard illnesses and takes active measures to prevent viruses from getting onboard in the first place:

— (Cruise Crud 3 :33 "If there has been … new viruses coming on.")

Princess Cruises says it followed U.S. Centers for Disease Control protocols in reporting the illness and cleaning the vessel before its latest sailing.

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