Will Global Flu Pandemic Threaten Cruise Industry?
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Posted by Renee Ruggero Jun 11, 2009 |
Earlier this week, the Adventure of the Seas was denied entry to both the ports of St. Lucia and Antigua because three people onboard exhibited flu-like symptoms. Last month, the Pacific Dawn (P&O Cruises) was denied entry to all of its Australian ports, for similar reasons. Although port authorities were worried that those ships were carrying the H1N1 virus, the facts stand that neither of those ships ended up testing positive for the Swine Flu.
Today the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it had raised the level of influenza pandemic alert. The WHO reported that 74 countries had reported nearly 28,000 cases of swine flu, including 141 deaths. But it is interesting to note that the ordinary flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year.
The WHO has stressed that most H1N1 flu cases are mild and require no treatment, and they also continue to recommend no restrictions on travel and no border closures. So why, is there so much media hype around it? Will this new upgraded alert cause more ports to turn away cruise ships? Will cruise ships become a scapegoat for spreading the H1N1 virus? How will cruising be affected by this new flu pandemic alert?
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