Investigation Update on the Volendam
- Cruise Line: Holland America Line
- Cruise Ship: Volendam
- Voyage Dates: 1/2-1/12
- Number of ill passengers out of total number of passengers: 85 of 1451 (5.86%)
- Number of ill crew out of total number of crew:
7 of 608 (1.15%)
- Predominant symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting
- Actions: In response to the outbreak, Holland America Line
and the crew aboard the ship took the following actions:
- increased cleaning and disinfection procedures,
- sent senior environmental health specialists for additional support;
- sent additional staff to support the increased cleaning and disinfection;
- collected stool specimens for analysis;
- delayed the time of embarkation;
- sent daily updates to CDC until the number
of ill people returned to expected levels.
- On January 12th, VSP staff boarded the ship to conduct a targeted environmental health assessment
and make recommendations.
During the following voyage (sailing dates 1/12-1/22) the number of ill people
returned to expected levels. The voyage subsequent to that one (sailing dates
1/22-2/1), the number of people that reported being ill increased; VSP continued to monitor the ship until the numbers returned
and remained at expected levels again (voyage with sailing dates: 2/1-2/11).
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