Investigation Update on the Celebrity Silhouette

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette

Voyage Dates: January 29 – February 10, 2012

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 178 of 2809 (6.34%)

Number of crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 11 of 1236 (0.89%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea

Causative agent: Norovirus

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Celebrity Cruises and the crew aboard the ship have taken the following actions:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan,
• Made announcements to both notify passengers and encourage case reporting,
• Conducted red level cleaning and delayed embarkation to permit a thorough disinfection,
• Collected stool specimens from ill passengers and crew for diagnostic laboratory testing,
• Distributed a pre-boarding health advisory to incoming passengers,
• Made daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the VSP,
• Extended their turnaround day in Newark, New Jersey on February 10, 2012 to conduct a red level cleaning,
• Delayed embarkation to permit a thorough disinfection, and
• Consulted with CDC on disembarkation plans for active cases, terminal and transport infection control procedures

A CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officer and an epidemiologist will board the ship on arrival in Newark, New Jersey on February 10, 2012 to conduct a targeted environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities.