Acute Gastroenteritis on Cruise Ships - United States, 2008-2014

From 1990 to 2004, the reported rates of diarrheal disease on cruise ships decreased 2.4%, from 29.2 cases per 100,000 travel days to 28.5 cases. Increased rates of acute gastroenteritis illness occurred in years that novel strains of norovirus, the most common etiologic agent in cruise ship outbreaks, emerged. To determine recent rates of acute gastroenteritis on cruise ships, the CDC analyzed combined data for the period 2008-2014 that were submitted by cruise ships sailing in US jurisdiction (defined as passenger vessels carrying ≥13 passengers and within 15 days of arriving in the US). Here, Freeland et al present the result of CDC's analysis and discusses its implication to public health practice.