Norovirus outbreak cruise ship: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that almost 100 passengers became ill during a 13-day Royal Caribbean cruise, according to NBC Miami on Thursday, October 2, 2025. The ship, Serenade of the Seas, departed from San Diego on September 19, 2025 and docked at the Port of Miami after the outbreak was reported to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program. Passengers who fell sick began experiencing several notable symptoms, which we break down below.

Cruise Ship Norovirus Outbreak: Norovirus Hits the Cruise Ship

The CDC reported that 94 of 1,874 passengers and 4 of 883 crew members fell ill during the voyage, with the most common symptoms being diarrhea and vomiting. Passenger Bob Pettit, 87, shared his experience: “It really hits you hard, violently. I’ve been on twenty-five cruises, and this is the first time I’ve been this sick in my life.”

What Is Norovirus?

Often called the “stomach flu” or “stomach bug,” norovirus is not related to influenza. It causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Most people recover within 1 to 3 days, but the virus can still be contagious for several days afterward. In 2025 alone, the CDC has recorded 19 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships, 14 of which were caused by norovirus. The CDC notes that such illnesses spread quickly in enclosed environments like cruise ships.

Norovirus outbreak cruise ship: Unique Symptoms Observed on This Cruise

Norovirus symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure. While diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach cramps remain common, this outbreak has shown some unusual signs:

• Dehydration
• Reduced urination
• Dry mouth and throat
• Feeling dizzy when standing
• Crying with few or no tears
• Unusual sleepiness or irritability

Norovirus: Who Is Most at Risk?

According to the CDC, anyone can contract norovirus, but some groups are more vulnerable. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems may experience more severe symptoms. Genetics may also play a role in susceptibility. Eating raw shellfish, such as oysters, can also increase the risk, as they may contain harmful viruses or bacteria.

How Long Does Norovirus Last?

Symptoms typically last 1 to 3 days and generally improve with rest and hydration. However, people remain contagious for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop, and children with diaper rash may shed the virus for up to 7 days. Seek medical care if severe dehydration develops or if symptoms persist beyond a few days.

How Long Is Norovirus Contagious?

According to CDC, Norovirus spreads very easily, starting from the moment symptoms appear and continuing for at least three days after recovery, and sometimes up to two weeks. Even after symptoms disappear, the virus can still be passed to others for several weeks, and in some cases, people may carry and shed the virus for months.

Bowel cancer, also called colon or rectal cancer, is one of the most common cancers. It is the fourth most common cancer in the United States, and around 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

The time it's found makes a huge difference in how well a person does. Catching the disease early makes a huge difference in survival.

If the cancer is caught in the very first stage (Stage One), people have a 90% chance of living for five years or more. That's excellent odds. But if it's found much later (Stage Four), the chance of living five years or more drops to only 10%. The lesson is clear: early checking and spotting symptoms can save lives.

Key Early Warning Signs of Colon Cancer

A doctor known as "Dr. Ben", also known as Medicina y Mente online has highlighted four main signs that could point to early bowel cancer. He stressed that if you see these, you should go to your doctor as soon as possible, especially since some of these symptoms only show up when you use the toilet. Here are the four key things to look out for:

Blood in your stool: This is one of the most common early alarms.

Changes in how you go to the toilet: This doesn't mean just one bad day. It means a big difference in your normal habits, such as going from being constipated (having hard, difficult-to-pass stool) to suddenly having diarrhea.

Losing a lot of weight for no reason: If you lose a significant amount of weight without changing how you eat or how much you exercise, it is a concern.

Feeling extremely tired (fatigue): This is tiredness that doesn't go away, even after rest. This is only a worry if there's no other clear reason for the tiredness.

What Are Some Other Symptoms Of Colon Cancer?

It's natural to feel shy, but the NHS strongly advises people to see a doctor if they have been experiencing any symptoms of bowel cancer for three weeks or longer. Doctors and nurses talk about these things all the time, so please don't be embarrassed. Other symptoms of colon cancer that the NHS mentions include:

• Bleeding from your bottom.
• The constant feeling like you need to go to the toilet, even if you just went.
• Pain in your tummy (abdomen).
• Feeling a lump in your tummy.
• Feeling bloated
• Feeling short of breath.

If your stool is very black or dark red, or you have bloody diarrhea, you need to call 111 or get an urgent appointment with your GP. While these symptoms don't always mean cancer, it is very important to get checked to find out what the problem is.

How To Prevent Colon Cancer?

The best defense against bowel cancer is screening. The NHS offers home testing kits for everyone between the ages of 50 and 74.

These home tests can be analyzed to look for tiny signs of cancer even before you feel sick or notice any symptoms. This is the most effective way to catch cancer at the earliest, most treatable stage.

October is the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) observes this month to spread awareness on breast cancer and the month is also globally observed. This year, the theme is 'Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters'. The aim of this theme is to make more people understand that while community support is important, not everyone's journey can be the same. Each breast cancer diagnosis is personal.

Breast Cancer Statistics

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. In 2022, approximately 2.3 million women were diagnosed and another 670,000 died from the disease, notes WHO.

WHO also notes that while the 5-year survival rates in high-income countries exceeds 90%, the figures drop to 66% in India and 40% in South Africa. These disparities are driven by unequal access to early detection, timely diagnosis and effective treatment. If the current trend continues, the incidence and mortality are projected to rise by 40% by 2050 hence the need for urgent and coordinated action. Indeed, where a woman lives should not determine whether she survives.

Established in 2021, the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative together with partners is working with countries to reduce breast cancer mortality by strengthening health systems.

The goal for this year's Breast Cancer Awareness Month thus would be to increase awareness and promote behavior change for early detection of the same.

One also must understand that the stigma and myths around breast cancer is what makes it difficult for people to understand what is happening with their body.

While the percentage of breast cancer patients is high in women, it is wrong to assume that men are not affected. Dr Mickey Mehta, previously told Health and Me, "Traditionally it is viewed as a women’s health issue, breast cancer awareness has often excluded men, even though they can also be affected by the disease. Engaging men in breast cancer awareness is crucial, as breast cancer can affect men, albeit at lower rates than women."

What Are Other Myths Associated With Breast Cancer?

Wearing A Bra Causes Breast Cancer

This idea was fueled by the 1995 book called Dressed to Kill by Sydney Ross Singer and Some Grismaijer which claimed that women who wear underwire bras for 12 hours a day have a much higher risk of developing breast cancer. The book claims that it restricts the lymph system, which can result in a build-up of toxins in the breasts. However, there is no credible research that shows a link between the two.

Dr Namrata Singal Sawant, Director and Senior Breast & Women's Imaging Consultant Radiologist at Vcare Imaging Diagnostic Centre, Mumbai, says, "While many of my patients ask me this question, especially about underwired bras or black bras; there has been no scientific evidence to claim the same. Although ill-fitting bras do cause chest pain or breast pain sometimes if too tight. But not cancer."

Sugar Consumption Can Caused Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

"It might be associated with many other health issues but has not been associated with breast cancer yet. However, keeping the sugar levels under control is very important for health healing of any breast infections or inflammatory disorders. Diabetic mastopathy is an important mimicker of breast cancer on imaging," says the doctor.

Wearing Black-dyed Clothes Can Cause Breast Cancer

The doctor says that it has not been proven by any scientific studies; however, wearing clothes with natural fibres and maintaining personal hygiene in the form of cleaning ourselves and our clothes regularly is a must.

Pregnancy Increases The Risk of Breast Cancer

As per the National Cancer Institute, the older a woman is when she has her first full-term pregnancy, the higher her risk of breast cancer. "Having our conventional reproductive customs like a first child before the age of 30 years and breastfeeding has been known to be associated with lower risks," says Dr Namrata. She also highlights the reports of Hormonal replacement therapy associated with increased risk of breast cancer.

Therefore, pregnancy does not increase the risk of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Cannot Happen Again

"Well! Some types of breast cancer when diagnosed early have excellent prognosis to treatment. Whereas there are others especially “Triple-negative types” which are notorious for poor prognosis and recurrence. If the cancer is diagnosed late, or positive margins have been left behind during breast conservative treatment or some kind of treatment failure, there are definite chances of recurrence," explained the doctor.

“Frankenstein”, a new Covid-19 variant, has been detected in Montreal’s wastewater and is now spreading across Quebec, according to the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ). Officially known as XFG, the subvariant is considered highly transmissible but not more severe than earlier Omicron strains.

What Is the Frankenstein Covid-19 Variant?

First identified in January 2025, the Stratus strain—officially classified under the XFG lineage and its subvariant XFG.3—has become the most common form of COVID-19 in England.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated Stratus as a "variant under monitoring," a classification that signals the need for heightened genomic tracking, though it has emphasized the variant currently poses a low risk to global public health.

What sets Stratus apart from prior variants, particularly its Omicron predecessors, is a peculiar but increasingly common symptom: a hoarse or raspy voice, an anomaly not prominently associated with COVID-19 strains before.

Stratus is not just another offshoot of Omicron; it is what scientists call a “recombinant” or “Frankenstein” variant. This means it emerged when an individual was infected with two different Covid strains simultaneously, resulting in a new hybrid lineage. Such recombination events are rare but can lead to variants with novel characteristics—including changes in transmissibility, immune evasion, and symptomatology.

Reports from the World Health Organization indicate that Stratus is showing signs of additional immune evasion compared to other strains. This means it may more effectively bypass existing immunity from previous infections or vaccinations, contributing to its rapid spread.

Symptoms to Watch For

Like other Omicron subvariants, XFG is associated with respiratory symptoms such as dry cough, fatigue, nasal congestion, headache, muscle aches, and fever.

However, clinical observations point to some distinctive signs:

• A hoarse voice often accompanied by a sore throat described as a “razor blade” sensation.

• Some patients also experience gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhea, though these cases remain less common.

Risks Remain Moderate

WHO has classified XFG as a “variant of concern” but stresses that current data does not show it causes more severe illness compared to previous strains. Available vaccines are expected to continue providing strong protection against both symptomatic and severe cases.

Still, Canada is seeing a rise in overall COVID-19 activity. Federal data shows more than 2,400 confirmed cases were reported in the week of September 20, with positivity rates exceeding 10%. Activity is particularly increasing among people aged 65 and older.

In Quebec, health officials describe the situation as “moderate but rising”, aligning with what experts describe as part of the virus’s natural resurgence.

The Global Context: A 15th Wave in France

Canada’s developments mirror rising COVID-19 levels in Europe. French health experts say the country has entered a 15th wave, with incidence rates and emergency room visits climbing sharply since early September. Epidemiologist Mircea Sofonea explains that XFG carries multiple mutations that make it more transmissible and capable of partially evading immunity from prior infections or vaccines.

“The problem is that immunity naturally decreases over time, and these mutations help the virus bypass it,” Sofonea told franceinfo.

COVID-19 Entering a New Phase

Experts believe COVID-19 may be transitioning toward becoming a seasonal virus, much like the flu. “We hope that by next year, circulation will be more seasonal and less constant,” said Denis Malvy, infectious disease specialist at Bordeaux University Hospital.