Around 115 out of 3,000 passengers infected by norovirus on Caribbean cruise

A large number of cases of norovirus have been reported on the ‘Caribbean Princess’ cruise ship. The ship carried more than 3,000 passengers on board, of whom 115 people, including 102 passengers and 13 crew members, have been infected with the disease.

On April 28, the ship started sailing from Fort Lauderdale, expected to arrive at Port Canaveral, Florida, on Monday. There were 102 passengers and 13 crew numbers were reportedly infected by the norovirus on the cruise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the infected people have mainly experienced symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, as per reports.

The CDC reportedly also said that all the infected people are being kept isolated from uninfected travellers to prevent the spread. It is pertinent to note that the norovirus is a fairly common disease that causes gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhoea and vomiting. 

In March this year, 200 people were infected by the disease while they were on board the Star Princess, another Princess Cruises ship. Not only this, but last year, more than 2,200 people were sickened in 18 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships, the CDC reportedly said.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that attacks the stomach and intestines which spreads quickly in crowded and enclosed spaces like cruise ships, where thousands of people stay together for long periods of time and share food and facilities.

The infection is spread by coming into contact with a sick person, consuming contaminated food or water, or touching surfaces that have the virus on them. The main symptoms of this illness include sudden vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and headache.

This comes amid the hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship named MV Hondius, currently anchored near Cape Verde. Three people were evacuated off the ship.

The ship operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said two of them have serious symptoms and will be taken for treatment in the Netherlands. The third person was close to a passenger who died on May 2.