More than 100 people on a cruise ship have been infected after an outbreak of norovirus, forcing authorities to quarantine affected passengers and crew members.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 102 passengers and 13 crew members on the Caribbean Princess ship have shown gastrointestinal symptoms and have been isolated from the rest of the passengers.
The ship, owned by Princess Cruises, departed on April 28 from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is expected to dock on May 11. It is currently off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic and is scheduled to arrive in Nassau, Bahamas.
Princess Cruises confirmed the cases, saying the affected individuals had experienced “mild gastrointestinal symptoms.” The company added that all areas of the ship were immediately disinfected and cleaning measures were increased throughout the voyage.
According to the CDC, there were 3,116 passengers and 1,131 crew members on board. Norovirus, often known as the “winter vomiting virus,” is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms usually last about two days. The incident comes at a time when another cruise ship, the MV Hondius, is facing an outbreak of hantavirus. British passengers on board are being flown by helicopter to Tenerife, where they will undergo tests before being repatriated to the United Kingdom.
British authorities have organised special repatriation flights and strict health measures for passengers, while some people are being treated in the Netherlands, South Africa and the island of Tristan da Cunha after showing symptoms linked to hantavirus.
