A significant outbreak of norovirus has affected over 70 individuals aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship as it approaches Miami.
As per the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 71 passengers along with one crew member on the Serenade of the Seas have exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting during the 13-night voyage. More details can be found in the CDC’s announcement.
The cruise embarked from San Diego on September 19 and is scheduled to dock in Miami on Thursday.
The first cases of norovirus were identified on Sunday, rapidly escalating to nearly 4% of the 1,874 passengers onboard.
Those infected have been put in isolation and their stool samples have been collected for analysis, according to the CDC.
“It’s crucial that passengers and crew report gastrointestinal illnesses. Reporting allows for swift detection of outbreaks, enabling timely interventions to limit further spread of illness,” stated the CDC.
In light of this outbreak, Royal Caribbean has implemented enhanced sanitation measures, as per the CDC.
“The health and safety of our passengers, crew members, and the communities we visit is our utmost priority. We maintain strict cleaning protocols, many of which are more comprehensive than public health recommendations.” Royal Caribbean mentioned in a statement to USA Today.
Up to now, there have been 19 gastrointestinal outbreaks documented on cruises this year that were reported to the CDC, with 14 of these arising from norovirus.
Symptoms associated with norovirus may include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, headaches, abdominal cramps, and fever, or three or more loose stools within a 24-hour timeframe, as highlighted by the CDC.
