Norovirus aka “stomach bug” season is around the corner, and cruise ships are a common hotspot for outbreaks. Luckily, there’s a team of public health professionals working behind the scenes to keep passengers safe from the moment they step on board.
Did you know there is a team of about 15 scientists and public health experts who are working to keep cruise passengers safe and healthy while cruising? The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) is a team of environmental public health and epidemiology experts that works with the cruise industry to prevent and control diseases on cruise ships. They also educate passengers on staying healthy while cruising.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) in the 1970s as a collaboration between CDC and the cruise industry. Today, VSP consists of several environmental public health inspectors and epidemiologists who perform inspections, monitor and respond to disease outbreaks, review cruise ship construction, and provide training to the cruise industry to make sure that passengers have a healthy cruising experience.
➡️ Cruise ship inspections.
The Vessel Sanitation Program inspectors make surprise visits to cruise ships in the areas they are responsible for to check for public health and safety.
✅ Cruise ships fall under VSP’s responsibility if they stop at a U.S. port and also visit at least one foreign port during the year.
✅ Inspections determine how well cruise ships are following VSP’s environmental public health standards
✅ Cruise ship inspection scores are publicly available
➡️ Monitor and respond to outbreaks.
Cruise ships within VSP jurisdiction must report cases of Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE), aka diarrhea and vomiting, to VSP 36 to 24 hours before arriving in a US port from a foreign port.
✅ Ships have to report if at least 2% of passengers (that’s 2 out of 100) or crew get sick with AGE, and then report again if that number reaches 3% or more.
✅ When an increase in cases of AGE is reported to VSP, the VSP epidemiologists work with the crew to work out the cause of outbreaks and help control the spread.
✅ When total AGE cases onboard a vessel in their jurisdiction meet or go over 3% of passengers or crew, VSP will post the outbreak to their outbreaks website.
➡️ Review Cruise Ship Construction.
VSP will work with the cruise industry and shipyards to make sure ships are built or refurbished according to VSP’s construction standards.
➡️ Training.
VSP offers formal and informal training to cruise personnel. Trainings help the cruise industry personnel better understand VSP environmental public health standards to better protect the public.
Bottom line: 💡The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program works hard behind the scenes to make sure your next cruise is safe and enjoyable. Next time you board, if you see someone from VSP, make sure you let them know you appreciate their work!
Useful links:
CDC – Vessel Sanitation Program
