Norovirus outbreak sickens nearly 80 people on Holland America cruise ship

In February, nearly 80 people aboard a large cruise ship fell ill due to a suspected norovirus outbreak.

On March 1, the Center for Health Protection (CHP) boarded Dutch America’s Westerdam to investigate a major outbreak in Hong Kong.

Of the approximately 2,800 passengers on the ship, 65 guests and 11 crew members experienced symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms included diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

“During the Westerdam’s previous voyage from Yokohama, Japan to Hong Kong, some guests reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness,” Holland America said in a joint statement to Fox News Digital. he said.

The statement continued: “The cases were mostly mild and were recovering quickly.”

“As a precaution and consistent with our standard protocols, we implemented enhanced sanitation procedures and conducted additional deep cleaning as the ship completed its voyage in Hong Kong,” the cruise line said.

CDC REPORTS THAT THE FIRST CRISIS NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK THIS YEAR INFECTED ABOUT 90 PEOPLE

The ship had calls at ports such as Japan, Busan in Korea, and Shanghai in Mainland China.

Tests conducted in the ship’s laboratory revealed that stool samples from seven patients tested positive for norovirus. CHP planned to conduct additional testing.

“We implemented enhanced sanitation procedures and conducted additional deep cleaning once the ship completed its voyage.”

“The two passengers who fell ill first boarded the cruise ship in Japan on February 15 and showed symptoms the same day,” according to a press release from the Hong Kong government.

“Other individuals were subsequently affected.”

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CHP controller Dr. “After inspecting the cruise ship, CHP personnel briefed the affected individuals and the operator on health advice and necessary infection control measures, including thorough disinfection, and attention to personal and environmental hygiene,” Edwin Tsui said in the statement.

On the Dutch-American cruise in Hong Kong, 65 guests and 11 crew members fell ill. (iStock)

CHP recommended that the Holland America ship increase the training of its cleaning staff. Passengers and crew members who were confirmed to be in good health were allowed to disembark.

After the authorities ensured that the ship had undergone detailed cleaning and disinfection and that the hygiene conditions were deemed satisfactory, new passengers and crew were allowed to board the cruise ship. This ship then left Hong Kong for the Philippines.

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“Given the current high activity levels of norovirus… I urge cross-border cruise passengers and operators to pay special attention to personal, food and environmental hygiene to protect individual and public health,” Tsui said. he added.

Another Dutch America cruise ship was also destroyed by a virus in 2026.

Once officials ensure that the ship has gone through a thorough cleaning and disinfection process, new passengers will be able to board the ship from Hong Kong. (iStock)

As Fox News Digital previously reported, the Holland America Line was hit by a norovirus outbreak that sickened nearly 90 passengers and crew during its Dec. 28 to Jan. 9 voyage.

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The epidemic spread to the cruise company’s Rotterdam ship.

This ship sailed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and sailed through Curaçao, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica and other destinationsAccording to CruiseMapper.

According to the CDC, 81 passengers and 8 crew members reported diarrhea and vomiting.

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There were over 2,593 passengers and 1,005 crew members on board at the time.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella contributed reporting.

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