Cruise Ship Norovirus Outbreaks Make Hundreds of People Sick

There’s been a dramatic increase in gastrointestinal illnesses aboard cruise ships in recent weeks—and norovirus is to blame for most of them, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

The Washington Post first reported on the CDC’s data, which found that in December alone, 781 cruise ship passengers and 109 crew members had fallen sick.

Why It Matters

The highly contagious norovirus is the No. 1 cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., according to the CDC, which added that the outbreaks typically peak from November to April.

What To Know

The CDC this week said that norovirus outbreaks in the U.S. have hit their highest level since 2012. According to the agency’s NoroSTAT program, there were 495 recorded norovirus outbreaks from August to December and 91 during the week of December 5 alone.

There were 16 outbreaks of stomach illnesses on cruise ships this year, the CDC said, adding that as of Tuesday afternoon, 1,894 cruise passengers and 245 crew members fell ill with gastrointestinal issues.

The Post reported that four cruise ships were affected by five stomach bug outbreaks in December: Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess, and Holland America Line’s Rotterdam and Zuiderdam. Norovirus triggered the outbreaks on the latter three. The cause of sickness on the Queen Mary 2 is not yet known, the report said.

What Are the Symptoms of Norovirus?

According to the CDC, the most common symptoms of the virus are:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain

Other symptoms include fever, headaches and body aches, the agency said. Symptoms usually present themselves from 12 to 48 hours after a person is exposed to the virus.

What People Are Saying

Holland America Line said in a statement: “We initiated enhanced sanitation protocols on both ships in conjunction with the [CDC] to minimize further transmission. As a further precaution, upon arrival in Fort Lauderdale … both ships underwent additional and comprehensive sanitization before embarking on their next voyages with no further outbreaks.”

Cunard Line confirmed the Queen Mary 2 outbreak in a statement: “In response, enhanced health protocols have been implemented, including additional deep cleaning of public areas and staterooms, and close monitoring by our medical team, to ensure the comfort, health, and well-being of all guests and crew.”

The CDC said in a public health statement: “The rise in cases emphasizes the need for preventive measures. Early recognition of symptoms and isolating cases can limit further spread.”

What Comes Next

It’s likely we’ll see an uptick in norovirus cases as the peak season continues. The CDC said that anyone can be infected and that children younger than 5, older people and those with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of developing severe infections.