Cruise ships have been operating from ports in California for decades. The industry serves millions of passengers each year and employees thousands of workers. It also contributes billions of dollars into the state's economy each year. While the pandemic was devastating to the industry, cruise ships are once again operating and providing domestic and international cruises from ports throughout the state.

Keeping passengers safe from infectious diseases will be crucial for the health of the industry. Before COVID-19, a concern for many travelers considering a voyage on a cruise ship was an outbreak of acute gastrointestinal illnesses due to norovirus, but acute gastrointestinal illness is relatively infrequent on cruise ships reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Other outbreaks that have been linked to cruise ships include foodborne illnesses, influenza and less commonly, Legionnaires' disease.

“Outbreaks of infectious diseases can occasionally happen on cruise ships because people spend time close together and with travelers from many places,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing's Huntington Beach facility. “Close-contact environments can indeed facilitate the transmission of respiratory viruses from person to person through exposure to respiratory droplets, aerosols or contact with contaminated surfaces. With everything that has transpired over the past several years, renewed attention on the importance of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and infection control procedures onboard these massive ships is going to be essential moving forward.”

To help with efforts to protect travelers and crew members, LA Testing provides air, surface, water and food testing for microbial contaminants, pathogens and chemical pollutants. Their California laboratories also provide testing to confirm the effectiveness of disinfection procedures onboard cruise ships. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about IEQ and preventing the spread of germs on cruise ships that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/sdmeEOhqmm0

To learn more about this or other environmental, industrial hygiene and infection control testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.

About LA Testing
LA Testing is California's leading laboratory for environmental testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, viruses, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

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