A norovirus outbreak has struck the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, sickening 102 passengers and 13 crew members, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak was reported to the CDC on May 7, during the ship's 14-day voyage from Port Everglades to Port Canaveral.
Princess Cruises confirmed that a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness, and noted the crew quickly disinfected every area of the ship, adding extra sanitizing throughout the voyage. Upon arrival in Port Canaveral on May 11, the ship underwent comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before its next departure. The company also collected stool specimens, isolated ill passengers and crew, and consulted with the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program.
Industry expert Stewart Chiron noted that while norovirus is common across the U.S., cruise cases represent a tiny fraction of annual infections. He added that outbreaks often start when infected passengers board a ship unknowingly, but cruise lines follow strict protocols to limit spread. The reported case count on the Caribbean Princess just exceeds the CDC's 3% threshold for defining an outbreak. The CDC is conducting a field response, including an environmental assessment.