Over 100 passengers and 13 crew members aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship have reported symptoms linked to a norovirus outbreak. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 102 passengers and 13 crew members are affected. The ship, operated by Princess Cruises, set sail from Port Everglades, Florida, on April 28 and is scheduled to return on May 11. Currently, it is positioned off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic and is expected to dock in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday.
The cruise line has taken measures to isolate the infected individuals from the rest of the passengers. In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises confirmed that they have implemented thorough cleaning and sanitizing protocols throughout the vessel. Norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, is highly contagious but typically resolves within a couple of days. It spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and food or water prepared by someone who is infected.
This incident occurs amid another health concern on a different cruise ship, the MV Hondius, which is facing a hantavirus outbreak. While the hantavirus is less transmissible, it has resulted in fatalities among passengers. The World Health Organization has indicated that the risk to the broader public remains low.
