Norovirus Hits Three Cruise Ships, 300+ Sick 

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United States: Data collected in December show more than 300 passengers and crew members on board three different cruise ships were infected with norovirus. It is one of the few cases in the year 2023 that the CDC could document three confirmed outbreaks on cruise ships. 

Passengers and Crew Falling Sick Like Flu 

The outbreaks were on Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess and Holland America Line Rotterdam and Zuiderdam operated ships. People who were infected, they complained of flu like illness and was characterised by diarrhoea and vomiting. All together 301 people gotten sick on the two outbreaks in December, as reported by HealthDay. 

Why norovirus is difficult to stop on cruise ships 

According to the CDC, this is because norovirus spreads easily on cruise ships because of the close surroundings, shared eats, and because many people come and go. It can also be transmitted through food and water or through passengers who carry the virus from outside after trips have been made. 

Details of the Outbreaks 

The most recent one took place on the Holland America Rotterdam where of 2,192 passengers 83 and of 953 employees 12 had a positive result. The ship is currently plying its cruise in Caribbean and will then disembark at Fort Lauderdale. Other cruise ships that have recently been hit by the norovirus included the Zuiderdam, Ruby Princess, earlier this month in December. 

Passenger Cruise Lines adopt safety decisions 

Holland America Line address the outbreaks by enhancing the cleaning and disinfection measure plus isolation of affected passengers and crew. The company noted that the majority of the cases were either mild or prediased asymptomatic, as reported by HealthDay. 

Although such outbreaks comprise only a small portion of total U.S. norovirus illnesses, they remain an important concern for the cruise business.