Guidelines suggest cruise crews receive flu shots

Q. My husband and I are in good health and don’t qualify for a flu vaccine. Given past problems with norovirus, etc., on cruise ships, what, if anything, are cruise lines doing to address obvious concerns for flu outbreaks?

A. Cruise ships, with their captive audience, can become a perfect place to transmit contagious diseases. But norovirus and flu are spread quite differently.

Flu, a respiratory illness, is spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs and others breathe the same air. Norovirus, which causes a gastrointestinal illness, is contained in the stool and vomit of infected individuals and is spread by eating or drinking virus-contaminated food or by touching contaminated surfaces.

In August 1999, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published guidelines for the prevention and control of influenza-like illness among passengers and crew on cruise ships, which suggested that crew members receive flu vaccinations and that ships carry diagnostic kits and antiviral medication.

Steve Williams, medical director for Carnival Cruise Lines, said all major lines, including Carnival, follow the CDC guidelines. This year, however, because of the vaccine shortage, only Carnival crew members who meet the high-risk criteria are getting shots.

The CDC keeps public records about gastrointestinal illness outbreaks aboard specific ships. It also inspects and gives sanitation scores to each ship. Details: (770) 488-7070, www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/default.htm.