Magic Norovirus 2/17???

[c21kin]

seems many were struck with the bug for most of the week...just checking any other families?

[uwo93]

Thought I had stomach flu or food poising on 2/10 Magic. Had a look at Norovirus symptons upon return and now realize that it was probably noro.

DW heard that guest services was sending Gatorade to some cabins. Likely to rehydrate noro victims.

[HawkeyeGal]

I'm interested to know, too. DD & I were isolated Friday with it. DD is 18 months and had a terrible case of "whatever."

Should have added this was on the 2/10.

[c21kin]

we were on deck 7...my daughter started on 2/18

[HawkeyeGal]

We were on deck 7 as well - 7502. I know they scrubbed the entire room down while we were there. And our steward told us they had specific procedures for rooms that had been isolated. They even took bedding out in yellow bio-hazzard bags while we were there.

[rrfsteve]

noro-virus or 'GI' is a pain. The annoying thing is that people come onboard with the symptoms, yet don't declare them. In a contained space it spreads. It frustrates me that the cruise lines get the bad PR for this (im not saying this happens here - this is just a general rant), people saying that they dont 'clean' enough, or that the place is 'dirty'. The reality is - it's normaly caused by one selfish guest.

I was crew on a ship (disney), and if you did not declare you had GI symptoms as soon as you possibly could, or went into a 'public' (crew or guest) area you would face the most strict action.

I personaly think the problem with GI is that cruise ships are way to clean. I mean, with the sterile conditions if a GI virus can take hold - it just spreads!

Strangely, you know you are less likely to catch GI on a cruise ship than any other public venue.

[Host Mick]

There's illnesses on every cruise. People come aboard a ship sick when they would stay home from work or school because they just can't bring themelves to miss their cruise that they've been planning for so long.
I checked the CDC website. It's up to date (even shows a cruise that doesn't end until tomorrow) and there's no mention of a Disney ship since 2002. http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/GIlist.htm
To be reported, a ship must have more than 3% of passengers and crew sick from a GI ilness.

[c21kin]

we had our bedding changed on sunday and again on thursday...we were in 7046...i asked the room steward if my room had a problem the previous week...i was told "hey mon i didn't work this room last week"...then i didn't see him much for the rest of the week...from speaking to other passengers, it seems it was more widespread, but not reported by all...maybe they should think about eliminating the buffets...too many bare hands in the buffet...teach the kids (and some adults) to use the utensils...

[HawkeyeGal]

I know that many don't report it - and honestly I don't know if I would have reported myself if DD hadn't gotten sick. :o But she needed medical attention and in the end I'm glad we reported it. We have trip insurance and they are paying for "trip interruption" for both of us (which we wouldn't have received if we hadn't reported it.) Plus the "perks" of the VCR/DVD player, free room service drinks, etc were pretty nice - at least if you are stuck in your room you should be comfortable and taken care of. And the last thing I wanted was DH & DS in there with us getting sick as well.

[Host Mick]

I know that many don't report it - and honestly I don't know if I would have reported myself if DD hadn't gotten sick. :o But she needed medical attention and in the end I'm glad we reported it. We have trip insurance and they are paying for "trip interruption" for both of us (which we wouldn't have received if we hadn't reported it.) Plus the "perks" of the VCR/DVD player, free room service drinks, etc were pretty nice - at least if you are stuck in your room you should be comfortable and taken care of. And the last thing I wanted was DH & DS in there with us getting sick as well.

How does your trip insurance company determine how much to compensate you? Is it a straight percentage of the time that you were isolated or some complicated insurance calculation?

[HawkeyeGal]

How does your trip insurance company determine how much to compensate you? Is it a straight percentage of the time that you were isolated or some complicated insurance calculation?

I'm not sure - I haven't been able to get a straight answer (no surprise there.) I've been told that they will decide based on how much time was missed, and I'm betting it will be a complicated insurance calculation that they won't want to share with me. It's been a challenge so far getting the claim forms, documentation they require, etc. For example - you have to request a claim form when you get home, but you must have the attending Dr. fill out part of the form. Hummmm.... So I've talked to 2 different people and will be sending in the documentation from the medical team on the boat as well as info from our own doctor here (which, thank goodness I took DD to when we got home.)

This doesn't even cover the prescription costs for DS who's eardrum burst - the trip insurance is secondary to our personal medical insurance. What our insurance doesn't cover they will. No problem. So I sumbit the medical charges to our insurance and try to file a claim with our prescription insurance. I'm told that since I didn't fill the script at a pharmacy we don't have coverage. Excuse me, we were in the middle of the ocean, I didn't know where the closest Walgreens was. So I'll be calling back on Monday to hopefully talk to someone who understands the phrases "cruise" and "emergency." If our insurance doesn't cover it, the trip insurance will. I'm just glad that we spent the extra $121 on trip insurance!