A norovirus outbreak sickened 70 people aboard the Coral Princess during its 31-day cruise from Singapore to Los Angeles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the highly contagious stomach virus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, affected 55 of the 1,822 passengers and 15 of the 907 crew members.
The outbreak was reported near the end of the voyage, which began on October 17 and included stops in Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, and Hawaii. Princess Cruises implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures as part of its outbreak response plan.
Despite the incident, the Coral Princess arrived in Los Angeles as scheduled on November 17 before departing for a 16-day journey to Fort Lauderdale. Norovirus spreads easily through food, water, or contaminated surfaces, requiring as few as 10 particles to infect an individual, according to the CDC.
In a similar case earlier this year, a salmonella outbreak affected 180 passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska. Cruise lines emphasize rigorous health protocols to safeguard passengers and crew.
