Caribbean Princess hit by norovirus, sickening 102 passengers and 13 crew
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More than 100 people on the Caribbean Princess cruise ship were affected by a norovirus outbreak, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report released Thursday.
According to the report, 102 of 3,116 passengers (3.3%) and 13 of 1,131 crew members (1.2%) were reported to be ill, with symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. The outbreak was reported to the CDC on May 7.
The cruise took place from April 28 to May 11, according to the CDC.
Princess Cruises said a limited number of people reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the cruise.
NOROVIRUS SICKS MORE THAN 200 CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS ON TRAVEL DURING THE MONTH
The cruise voyage ran from April 28 to May 11. (Getty Images)
“Princess Cruises can confirm that a limited number of people reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the Caribbean Princess’ cruise from Port Everglades on April 28,” the statement said.
The statement continued: “We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitization throughout the voyage. Upon arrival at Port Canaveral on May 11, Caribbean Princess will undergo a thorough cleaning and disinfection before embarking on her next voyage.”
To reduce the spread of the virus, Princess Cruises notified the CDC that, in accordance with the ship’s outbreak response plan, it increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, collected fecal samples for testing, isolated sick passengers and crew, and consulted the CDC’s Ship Sanitation Program (VSP) on sanitation measures and case reporting.
CDC REPORTS THAT NEAR 100 PEOPLE WERE INFECTED IN THE NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK ON THE 21st CRUISE SHIP THIS YEAR
According to the CDC, 102 of 3,116 passengers (3.3%) and 13 of 1,131 crew members (1.2%) were reported sick. (Getty Images)
The Ship Sanitation Program is conducting a field response that includes environmental assessment and outbreak investigation to help control the spread of the disease, the CDC said.
Miami-based cruise industry expert Stewart Chiron, known as “The Cruise Guy,” told Fox News Digital that norovirus is common in the U.S., with millions of cases reported each year, while cases linked to cruise ships make up a small fraction of the total.
A 3D rendering shows a cruise ship surrounded by virus and bacterial particles that represent disease outbreaks and contamination risks, such as norovirus and E. coli. (iStock)
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He said outbreaks often begin when infected passengers board a ship and unknowingly spread the virus, but cruise lines follow strict cleaning protocols and quickly isolate sick individuals to limit transmission. He added that cases reported at Caribbean Princess slightly exceed the 3% threshold the CDC uses to define an outbreak.
Norovirus is a common cause of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships. The CDC notes that reported case totals reflect illnesses during the entire trip and do not mean that all passengers were sick at the same time.
