The Norovirus infection which has been affecting several cruise ships since the last several months has reached the shores of Hong Kong aboard the ship Queen Elizabeth, on Tuesday.

However, authorities have been quick to reinforce that the situation is under control and the ship complies with required hygiene standards.

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Meanwhile, around 150 passengers and crew have fallen ill aboard the ship with two dozen people still in precautionary isolation to contain the spread of the disease.

The Norovirus, commonly called stomach flu or winter vomiting bug, is highly contagious. It is spread through contaminated food, air, and surfaces infected by a person carrying the virus. It causes severe gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the intestines, and manifests in symptoms like headache, body pains, vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.

Cruise ships have been an easy target for the outbreak since the virus gets a change to spread rapidly in closed communities. Other common sites of the outbreak include day care centers, hospitals, schools, and dormitories. 

Another reason which may hold the key to the outbreak of the disease aboard ships is seafood. Clams and oysters that are served aboard the vessels have been found to contain the virus in the past. Contaminated water can carry the virus for several years.

The most important measures that need to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease aboard ships include frequent hand washing with soap, cleaning surfaces with household bleach and water, discarding stagnant water in aquariums, regular inspection of food especially seafood, and proper disposal of fecal matter.

In the US alone, the virus accounts for millions of illnesses each year and is the most common cause of food borne illnesses. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it causes around 800 deaths each year and more than 50,000 hospitalisations.

Earlier in February, the cruise ship Diamond Princess in Sydney suffered a major attack of the virus leaving at least 158 passengers severely ill from gastroenteritis. It was the second major outbreak of the virus in Australia in recent months.

Tagsnorovirus, Hong Kong, Cruise Ship, gastrointestinal infection, Nausea, US CDC, Australia, food safety, improper hygiene, disinfection