LIFE's STORIES, ADVENTURES & TRAVELS

Norovirus primarily spreads through contaminated food. It is very contagious. It can cause a serious disease.

Knowing much more now about virus pandemics and outbreaks, in this case particularly when undertaking a cruise with one of the largest cruise ship lines, the Princess Cruises. This was in September 2015. Embarking from Vancouver across the Pacific to the Hawaiian Islands. The cruise itself was for 21 days on the Star Princess.

Soon after embarkation at Vancouver a number of passengers started coughing – the kind of cough that brings up your lungs. I had a balcony, my neighbor to my left was the first to cough. Couple of days later, my neighbor to the right of me started. Then more and more passengers got sick.

This had been a viral outbreak, possibly already arriving with the Start Princess from a previous voyage, before arriving in Vancouver. I complained officially at the Customer Services Desk, request that I like to use my balcony without being coughed at by both sides. No reaction. Throughout this voyage a large number of guests fell quite ill. Dining rooms started empty out. But entertainment went on, allowing guests to congregate in groups.

On 27 September the first health advisory report was issued by Dr. Grant Tarling, Chief Medical Officer, referring to (simple) cold and fly symptoms,and giving out advice how to protect yourself. In addition to the hundreds of (Alcohol-based) hand sanitizing stations throughout the ship. On 30 September 2015 the second health advisory report was issued to all guests, strongly suggesting an outbreak of Norovirus.

[ http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/overview.html ]. Measures were put in place to protect open food buffets, allowing the crew to handle foods with gloves.

Of multiple posts on this particular voyage, this strikes me

[ http://www.cruiselawnews.com/articles/norovirus/ ] as underestimating the severity of a particularly nasty outbreak of respiratory and gastro-intestinal disease on the Star Princess.

On the ship throughout the voyage I was not sick. Returning back to Vanvouver, arriving Cruise Ship Terminal, on October 4h, 2015. From Vancouver, the trip back home to Victoria, Vancouver Island, spending many hours by bus and ferry to finally return home, I was still OK. Until the next day after my return, that nasty virus got hold of me and I was sick for weeks. This type of virus is difficult to fight, because is is the immune system that needs to take care of it. Miraculously I had survived this.

NOTE.

My observations on this ship: Guests were still coughing into their hands. Using the Internet room and touching keyboards, or coughing freely into the air surrounding them. Or seafood and fruits being served which might or might not have been infected. Because of the fact that the disease started immediately upon embarkation, it can strongly be suspected that the Norovirus was already present when the voyage started. From a financial point of view, it is bad business to purchase a cruise for around $5,000 which includes not only a nice cabin with balcony, food, swimming pools, entertainment of all sorts, but also (hidden) a dangerous viral infestation.

{BTW – I never had any experience like this in my life.} [ https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/transmission.html ]

[ https://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fs-sa/fs-fi/norovirus-eng.php ]

1967 was the year the World Wildlife Fund Canada was founded, Toronto ON. It became a member of the worldwide global network of the WWF, which came into being April 1961, in Morges, Switzerland. 2017 will be the fiftieth anniversary of the WWF. In recognition of this and the tremendous effort and work of this organization, its members and contributors and supporters were asked to write a personal story about the year 1967. “Where were you in 1967 ?”

In my case, the year 1967 was very special. In January 1967 I got married to a Dutchman. Living in Holland and working for the European Space Technology Centre (ESA) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. In June that same year we took a vacation of two weeks to Varna, Bulgaria, the Black Sea. Just shortly prior to that, the six day war had broken out in Israel, the conflict between Israel and the Arab countries.

[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War ] Our plan had been to take a boat voyage across the Black Sea to Odessa, at that time still the USSR (Soviet Union). But because of the war, European nationals were not allowed into the USSR, because Russia was pro-Arab, whereas Europe was pro-Israel. Particularly the Netherlands.

Therefore, instead, we took the boat from Varna to Istanbul, Turkey. That crossing was not easy, it was rough. Istanbul in contrast was a wonderful and exciting cultural experience. That same year 1967, late in September my son was born. Making him next year also fifty years old, the same age as the World Wildlife Fund of Canada.

Of course during those years and living in Europe there was no such thing as wildlife. The best we came up with had been house pets. My caring for wildlife and the environment started in North America, when completing my graduate studies at Syracuse University, New York State. My major projects were on environmental information systems, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme. It was also during that period that I became aware of the problems our oceans are facing. The period was 1974. And today ? we hear the same. Nothing much has been accomplished as of yet. Keep up the good work for endangered wildlife species. It may be hard work, but it is worthwhile to never give up the fight.

To get a decent flight from Victoria, Vancouver Island south – even if it’s the same coast line – to Mexico, Puerto Vallarta (or anywhere thereabouts) is not so easy. Most flights take two days. But, good news: it can be done in one day. I went November/December 2012 to spend six weeks in Sayulita [ http://www.sayulita.com/ ], north of Puerto Vallarta, Mex. Taking West Jet Airlines. From Victoria International Airport (YYC). Meaning, get up early in the morning, catch the Victoria Airporter Bus from the nearest Hotel in Victoria (cost is only C$19) to Vic Airport. Flight leaves at 7:00 AM, arriving Calgary AB 9:20 AM (this is only a one-hour flight; Alberta is a different time zone already). At Calgary (which is the hub for all flights going to Pto. Vallarta) there is a good 4 hours layover at the airport. Met my old friend there at Tim Horton’s Cafe. From Calgary at 2:00 PM to Pto. Vallarta non-stop to arrive there at around 7:00 PM, when it’s dark in Mexico. Sayulita is a smaller fishing village and tourist hub for surfers just north of Puerto Vallarta [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Vallarta ].

When arriving at Pto. Vallarta airport, it is not necessary to catch a taxi cab (to go north) by traversing the highway and walk over the overpass to the other side. Taxis are just outside waiting once one gets through the airport security and bypass all the other commercial facilities (trying to sell you time-shares or other). There are also inside the airport taxi booths where you can rent a taxi. Not necessary, though. All taxis are controlled at the airport exit, so no over-charging can occur. There are standard fares for Sayulita US$50. Takes a couple hours by cab through the jungle and in the dark. I was lucky and used to always travel alone. Plus had informed myself beforehand via which villages we should travel. The young taxi driver was very friendly (as all Mexicans are), amused that I was nervous. When he stopped at one of those large grocery chain stores OXO on the way, asking if I want to buy some groceries for the next morning, I declined (“no way do I get out of this cab.”) Arriving Sayulita around 9 PM. In the dark we finally found the building, a big mansion uphill, where I had reserved my suite. Of course, the main gate was closed. Lucky, my taxi driver had a cell phone and could call inside. Lucky also, the US owners were still in the building that night. So, we could get the gate code to enter. The young man even carried my two small suit cases upstairs to my suite. Return from Sayulita to Pto. Vallarta Aeropuerto take the bus, it is cheap, about 40 minutes or less.