Cruise Ship Passengers at Risk as Norovirus Outbreaks Rise and CDC Staffing Cuts Take Hold
As the summer cruise season gets underway, passengers may face more than just rough seas – they may also be at risk of contracting norovirus, a highly contagious and often debilitating illness. According to experts, recent staffing cuts within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) have raised concerns about the ability of the program to effectively monitor and address potential health risks on cruise ships.
The VSP plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and safety of passengers by conducting regular inspections and responding to reports of illness. However, with reduced staffing, there are concerns about the program’s ability to keep up with the demands of a growing cruise industry. The CDC’s VSP reported 16 illness outbreaks on cruise ships in its jurisdiction so far this year, mostly caused by norovirus, compared to 18 outbreaks in all of 2024 and 14 in 2023.
The cuts to the VSP are part of a broader restructuring of the nation’s health agencies, launched by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in April. The move eliminated the CDC’s Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, which housed the cruise ship vessel program, along with others focused on asthma, air quality, lead exposure in children, and other issues. Four full-time CDC staff, including scientists, were dismissed, and the program’s 12 US Public Health Service commissioned officers, who remain, lack the expertise of the scientists who were let go.
"It’s going to put them back many months before they’re really functional again," said Erik Svendsen, the division’s fired former director. The CDC has stated that the VSP work "has not stopped" and that "critical programs in the CDC will continue under Secretary Kennedy’s vision to streamline HHS to better serve Americans."
The cruise industry has extensive sanitation protocols in place, which are monitored through the CDC’s vessel program. However, experts warn that even with these protocols, the risk of norovirus outbreaks remains. Norovirus is highly contagious and often spread by food or on surfaces, particularly in crowded conditions. It is a short-lived illness for many people, but it can be dangerous for people with underlying health conditions, young children, and those aged 65 and older.
According to Lee-Ann Jaykus, a North Carolina State University food microbiologist and virologist who has studied norovirus, "norovirus is the most common ailment tracked on ships." She notes that of the 19 million to 21 million norovirus illnesses that occur each year in the US, less than 1% are tied to cruises. However, even that fraction of cases can mean misery for many hundreds of people on ships who come down with symptoms that include sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain that can last three days.
A new epidemic strain of norovirus, called GII.17, has emerged, which has circulated at low levels for years but was behind a surge in US norovirus outbreaks this past winter. Between August 1 and April 9, more than 2,400 suspected or confirmed norovirus outbreaks were reported to a CDC monitoring system, roughly double for the same period a year earlier. The GII.17 strain has been responsible for nearly 80% of them.
Experts stress the importance of passengers taking precautions to avoid illness. "The first rule should be for sick people to stay home," said Donald Schaffner, a food science expert at Rutgers University. "That’s not possible on a cruise." If people get sick on a cruise ship, they are required to report the illness and isolate themselves, but many fail to do so. Passengers should be alert for signs of illness, even in other travelers, and take steps to protect themselves, such as washing hands frequently with soap and water and avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick.
As the summer cruise season gets underway, passengers would do well to be aware of the risks of norovirus and take steps to protect themselves. The Independent will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
In light of these developments, it remains to be seen how the cuts to the CDC’s VSP will affect inspections and outbreak investigations in the future. As Schaffner noted, "if you want to have no disease outbreaks, all you have to do is fire all the epidemiologists. And there’ll be no one there to investigate."
The cruise industry is a significant one, with around 18 million people boarding cruises in North America each year, part of nearly 32 million passengers worldwide, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, an industry trade group. However, industry officials say that the chance of contracting a gastrointestinal illness is far greater on land than on a ship.
The Independent has reported on the importance of maintaining robust public health measures to prevent the spread of illness on cruise ships. As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that passengers, industry officials, and public health experts will be watching closely to see how the CDC’s VSP adapts to its new structure and how effective it is in preventing and responding to norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships.
For now, Schaffner’s advice stands: "if you’re in a situation where you see someone vomit, immediately walk away from them, ideally into the wind." With norovirus outbreaks on the rise and CDC staffing cuts taking hold, passengers would do well to be vigilant and take all necessary precautions to stay safe and healthy on their cruise.
This follows a previous report by The Independent which has been focusing on how cuts in staff may affect monitoring of ships for viruses and other precautions taken.
