posted on Jul, 6 2009 @ 11:52 PM
reply to post by connelly4245
Interesting-
Cruise ships are notorious petri dishes for bugs- almost everyone I know wo's been on one has been ill afterwards with SOMETHING- a cold, flu,
etc.
Norovirus is very common- and as it is spread by feces (in, on or around food, generaly), I would check the cooking staff (as I would if it were a Hep
A outbreak- also food/and feces-borne virus). I've never heard of anyone dying from it, however, (though I've not read EVERY paper on norovirus in
existence)- and it makes me suspicious that it is in fact H1N1, and the cruiseship company fears negative press (=loss of buisness). H1N1 can and
does cause GI problems- I've read that up to 35% of patients this spring/summer who have the novel H1N1 have either nausea, diarhaea, or both, as
well as respiratory symptoms.
And yes- norovirus, like flus or rhinoviruses are exploiters of crowded environments- so I guess, until samples are taken (and if the cruiseship
company and/or the government are honest) we won't know the cause of the illness. The timing is sure off for norovirus, though.............
EDIT: norovirus is more common in the winter months when people are in closer quarters (like colds and seasonal flus, etc.), but that doesn't mean it
can't break out in summer. I smell a rat, though. It's H1N1 and it won't be classified as such, as the gentleman who died was already "ill",
and his death will be called cardiopulmonary failure, etc. Another chance to hide the truth.
[edit on 6-7-2009 by CultureD]