In a viral TikTok video, Doctor Rubin, a well-known paediatrician who shares plenty of advice on the social media, has issued a warning about avoiding taking a cruise ‘anytime soon.’
“Here’s why you’re not gonna see me on a cruise ship anytime soon, and I encourage people to consider this before they book a cruise,” he started his latest video that has since gone viral.
“So you know how there’s been all these cuts at federal public health agencies lately? Well one of them is the CDC’s vessel sanitation program which conducts health inspections on cruise ships at least twice a year.”
Dr Rubin then went on to discuss the recent budget cuts to federal agencies in America which have also affected health and safety inspections on ships.
Referring to an CBA News article that stated cruise ship inspectors have been “laid off amid bad year for outbreaks,” the doctor added: “Well one of [the cuts] is to the CDC’s vessel sanitation program, which conducts health inspections on cruise ships at least twice a year and they trace outbreaks to help reduce the chances of more people getting sick.”
“We’ve already had 12 Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships this year compared to eight last year,” he continued.
Norovirus, also known as the ‘winter vomiting bug,’ is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily in cramped environments such as cruise ships. Some of the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, body aches, a high temperature and a headache.
VT reported that 69 passengers and 13 crew members from the Coral Princess, that were on a three-week trip from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, have been affected by the virus.
Virus outbreaks have also been reported on 12 other cruise ships.
“The cruise ships pay for these health inspections, so it’s not like we’re actually saving any money from the taxpayers perspective. This makes absolutely no sense,” Dr Rubin concluded.
@rubin_allergy CDC’s cruise ship inspectors laid off. #cruise #tiktokdoc #learnontiktok ♬ original sound – Dr. Rubin, MD
While there have been those who agreed with the doctor about his warning to avoid taking a cruise at this time, there have also been those who accused him of “fear mongering.”
“Sorry but I love cruising. I already have 2 cruises booked,” one person commented.
“We cruise every year and just went in mid February, which is prime time for norovirus. We were on Carnival’s biggest ship and were fine.”
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