A cruise ship, the Ruby Princess, is currently under lockdown in San Francisco following a norovirus outbreak that has affected over 100 passengers and 20 crew members. The ship, operated by Princess Cruises, was on a 20-day round trip to Alaska, which included a stop in British Columbia, Canada. According to the CDC, approximately 3.4% of passengers and 2% of the crew reported symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting during the trip from June 12 to July 2.
In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises has implemented enhanced sanitation protocols, which have reportedly led to a decrease in cases. The company confirmed that a limited number of guests experienced mild gastrointestinal illness and that the crew acted swiftly to mitigate the situation. Measures taken included isolating affected individuals, collecting stool samples for testing, and contacting the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.
Officials have stated that the Ruby Princess is undergoing comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before it departs for its next voyage. Norovirus is known to be the leading cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships, with the CDC reporting it was responsible for 17 out of 23 outbreaks last year. This incident follows a similar outbreak on another Princess Cruises ship, the Caribbean Princess, which sickened over 100 passengers during its Eastern Caribbean voyage.
