An outbreak of Norovirus sickens 153 passengers, who work aboard the Star Princess
More than 150 people aboard the Princess Cruises ship contracted norovirus on a Caribbean cruise this week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak occurred on the Star Princess on a voyage from March 7 to March 14, according to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), which monitors illness on cruise ships.
Those reported sick include 104 passengers and 49 crew members — out of a total of 4,307 passengers and 1,561 crew members, the CDC said.
The outbreak was reported to VSP on March 11, less than a week after the trip began.
According to the CDC, the most commonly reported symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting, which are common symptoms of norovirus infection.
In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, isolated sick passengers and crew members, and collected stool samples from sick people for testing, the CDC said.
“A limited number of people reported mild stomach ailments during the March 7 Star Princess departure from Ft. Lauderdale,” Princess Cruises said in a statement. “We immediately disinfected all areas of the ship and added additional hygiene measures throughout the cruise. We also isolated anyone who was unwell so they could rest comfortably in private – just an extra step to help keep all our guests and crew feeling their best.”
“Star Princess returned to Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday, March 14 and was thoroughly cleaned prior to her next voyage that afternoon,” the company continued.
Ship officials also consulted with CDC health officials about sanitation procedures and reporting cases, according to the agency.
VSP conducts environmental studies and outbreak investigations to help the ship control the spread of the disease.
Tracking site CruiseMapper showed the ship stopped in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday before continuing its voyage. Its itinerary revealed that the ship was due to visit the Princess Cays in the Bahamas later on Sunday.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that often causes vomiting and diarrhea and can spread quickly in close quarters such as cruise ships, according to health officials.
The CDC notes that the total number of illnesses reported during a cruise represents the cumulative number of cases over the entire cruise – not the number of people who were sick at the same time.
Cruise ships are required to report cases of gastrointestinal illness to the CDC, which tracks outbreaks and works with cruise lines to implement sanitation and handling measures when they occur.
FOX Business has reached out to Princess Cruises and the CDC for further comment.
