More than 100 individuals fell ill in a norovirus outbreak aboard a Princess Cruises ship. Out of 3,001 passengers on the Ruby Princess vessel, 103 reported symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting, along with 12 crew members. The cruise departed from San Francisco on December 2 for a trip to Hawaii and Mexico, as reported by CruiseMapper.
Following the outbreak, Princess Cruises took measures to increase disinfection and cleaning on board, isolating sick guests and crew. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the incident and stated that in 2024, there have been 13 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships meeting their notification threshold, with norovirus being the main causative agent in most cases.
Dr. Sarah E. Hochman, a hospital epidemiologist, highlighted that while norovirus outbreaks are often associated with cruises, they account for only 1% of all reported outbreaks. She emphasized that such outbreaks are not unique to cruise ships, as they can occur in any crowded setting, including households. The CDC and Princess Cruises have yet to provide further comments on the situation.
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