The news hasn’t been good recently for people planning a cruise ship vacation. Although the majority of travelers experience a trip that is relatively problem-free, we do come across reports of Norovirus outbreaks on some cruise ships. Recently the world’s largest cruise ship was held in port for intensive cleaning after a second outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in two voyages sickened 106 people. And reports this week of Norovirus have cropped up at the Olive Garden restaurant tin Indianapolis in the US and hospitals in the Maritimes.

• Bruce Gamage RN BSN CIC, Infection Control Consultant at the BC Provincial Infection Control Network and UBC’s Centre for Disease Control