Report on Norovirus Outbreaks Across Several Cruise Ships
關於多艘郵輪爆發諾羅病毒的報告
Introduction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a series of norovirus outbreaks on several cruise ships, including a recent case on the Ruby Princess.
美國疾病控制與預防中心 (CDC) 報告指出，數艘郵輪發生了一系列諾羅病毒爆發，包括最近在 Ruby Princess 號上的案例。
Main Body
The Ruby Princess traveled from San Francisco to Canada and Alaska between June 12 and July 2. During this trip, 102 passengers and 23 crew members became infected. Because the ship carries over 4,000 people in total, the company had to use stronger cleaning methods. Furthermore, the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) provided remote guidance and advice on how to disinfect the ship to stop the virus from spreading.
Ruby Princess 號在 6 月 12 日至 7 月 2 日期間，從三藩市航行至加拿大與阿拉斯加。在這次航程中，有 102 名乘客與 23 名船員被感染。由於該船總共搭載超過 4,000 人，公司必須採取更強力的清潔措施。此外，船舶衛生計劃 (VSP) 提供了遠端指導與建議，說明如何對船隻進行消毒以阻止病毒傳播。
This event is part of a larger trend of stomach virus outbreaks. So far this year, seven such events have been recorded by the CDC. Princess Cruises has been hit three times: the Ruby Princess, the Caribbean Princess in April, and the Star Princess in March. Additionally, the National Geographic Sea Bird had two outbreaks in May and June, while the Queen Mary 2 reported 241 infections in April 2025.
此次事件是胃腸病毒爆發大趨勢的一部分。今年迄今，CDC 已記錄到七次此類事件。Princess Cruises 已受到三次影響：分別是 Ruby Princess 號、4 月的 Caribbean Princess 號，以及 3 月的 Star Princess 號。此外，National Geographic Sea Bird 號在 5 月和 6 月有兩次爆發，而 Queen Mary 2 號則在 2025 年 4 月報告有 241 例感染。
Norovirus is very contagious, especially in crowded places like cruise ships. It spreads through contaminated surfaces, food, water, or direct contact between people. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. While the illness usually lasts a short time, it is more dangerous for children, elderly people, and those with other health problems. Consequently, the CDC emphasizes that washing hands with soap and water is the best prevention, as alcohol-based sanitizers do not work well against this virus.
諾羅病毒傳染力極強，尤其是在郵輪等擁擠的場所。它透過受污染的表面、食物、水或人與人之間的直接接觸傳播。常見症狀包括噁心、嘔吐與腹瀉。雖然病程通常較短，但對於兒童、長者及患有其他健康問題的人來說較為危險。因此，CDC 強調使用肥皂和水洗手是最有效的預防方式，因為酒精類消毒劑對此病毒的效果不佳。
Conclusion
After isolating the sick passengers, the Ruby Princess underwent a complete disinfection process in San Francisco.
在將感染乘客隔離後，Ruby Princess 號在三藩市進行了全面的消毒程序。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 The 'Connector' Leap: Moving from A2 to B2
At the A2 level, we often use simple words like and, but, or so to connect our ideas. To reach B2, you need to use Logical Connectors. These words act like bridges, telling the reader exactly how two ideas relate to each other.
Look at these specific transitions from the report:
🛠️ The 'Adding' Bridge
Instead of just saying "and" or "also", the text uses:
- Furthermore "Furthermore, the Vessel Sanitation Program..."
- Additionally "Additionally, the National Geographic Sea Bird..."
Why use this? It makes your writing sound professional and organized. Use these at the start of a sentence to introduce a new, supporting point.
⚙️ The 'Result' Bridge
Instead of using "so", the text uses:
- Consequently "Consequently, the CDC emphasizes..."
The B2 Logic: While "so" is great for speaking, "consequently" shows a direct cause-and-effect relationship in a formal way. It tells the reader: "Because X happened, Y is the inevitable result."
💡 Pro Tip for your Transition
Try this mental shift:
- A2 Style: The ship was crowded, so people got sick.
- B2 Style: The ship was crowded; consequently, the virus spread rapidly.
By swapping a simple 'so' for 'consequently' or 'furthermore', you immediately shift your tone from 'basic student' to 'competent speaker'.