Warsaw Residents Among Hundreds Sickened On Hawaiian Cruise
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Four Warsaw residents were among hundreds who got sick last week aboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines ship Pride of Hawaii.
Hawaii state officials have identified the highly contagious Norwalk virus in the outbreak that affected about 220 passengers aboard the Norwegian Cruise Lines ship Pride of Hawaii, according to an Associated Press story Monday.Lab tests confirmed the presence of the virus, which causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, said Janice Okubo, spokeswoman for the Hawaii Department of Health, in the AP story.
The Norwalk virus typically lasts 24 hours, although passengers who felt sick during the course of the voyage and their cabin mates were asked to remain quarantined in their rooms for 24 hours, the AP story stated.
Warsaw residents participated in the cruise organized by Warsaw Cruise Group, a group formed by four local couples.
The cruise group included of 126 people from Warsaw, Winona Lake, Michigan, Indianapolis and Tennessee.
Area residents went on the cruise that began Nov. 5 and returned Tuesday.
Warsaw resident Diana Rhoades was one of the four Warsaw residents who got sick aboard the ship.
She said she was having dinner Nov. 7 on the ship with Mayor Ernie Wiggins and his wife, Deb, when she began to not feel well. She had symptoms of diarrhea and chills, which turned into a fever.
"I was so sick I couldn't move or go to the doctor on the ship to be checked out," Rhoades said during a telephone interview this morning.
Rhoades said she and her husband, city councilman Bill Rhoades, were quarantined to their room for 24 hours.
"The trip was supposed to be an anniversary trip for Bill and me, but it was too bad I couldn't fully enjoy the trip with being as sick as I was," Rhoades said.
The Rhoades returned Tuesday, and Diana still had a sore throat this morning and said she was trying to schedule a doctor's appointment.
Warsaw residents Tom and Sara Maze also were both sick on the cruise. They will get back next week after taking an extended stay in Hawaii. They could not be reached this morning for comments.
Jim Maze, owner of Ace Hardware, Warsaw, and his cousin John Frush from Indianapolis, who stayed in the cabin on the cruise next to he and his wife Bambi, got sick.
Maze said he started having stomach cramps Wednesday night and was quarantined to his room for 24 hours.
He said although he did not have much of an appetite, he began feeling better Thursday morning.
He and Frush went to the ship's medical center and were given Ibuprofen.
Maze said many of the ship's staff were getting sick, and additional hand sanitizers were immediately distributed on the ship.
Also aboard the cruise from Warsaw were City Councilman George Clemens and spouse Mary, Police Chief Steve Foster and spouse Karen, and Judge James Jarrette and spouse Teri.
