More than a hundred individuals aboard a cruise vessel have fallen ill in an outbreak of norovirus. The Caribbean Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 28 and is currently off the north coast of the Dominican Republic. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 102 passengers and 13 crew members have exhibited symptoms of the highly contagious norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug. Affected individuals have been separated from other passengers as a precautionary measure.
Princess Cruises acknowledged that a small number of passengers experienced mild gastrointestinal issues during the voyage and promptly sanitized the entire ship while increasing disinfection efforts throughout the journey. The company stated that the vessel will undergo thorough cleaning and disinfection before its next trip. The cause of the outbreak has not been disclosed.
The Caribbean Princess accommodates a total of 3,116 passengers and 1,131 crew members, as reported by the CDC. Norovirus spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, tainted food or water, and food preparation by carriers of the virus. Although the symptoms, which include vomiting and diarrhea, are typically short-lived and resolve within about two days, the outbreak has caused concern given the recent hantavirus incident on another cruise ship.
Meanwhile, the MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is en route to the Canary Islands with over 140 passengers and crew members still on board, following a hantavirus outbreak that resulted in fatalities and infections. Hantavirus, which is primarily transmitted through inhaling particles contaminated by rodent droppings, poses a lower risk of human-to-human transmission, according to the World Health Organization.
As the Caribbean Princess and MV Hondius deal with their respective health challenges, authorities are closely monitoring the situations to ensure the well-being of all individuals on board both vessels.