Norovirus Outbreaks Hit Two Cruise Ships, Sickening Over 180 Passengers and Crew

In April 2024, two cruise ships, Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess and Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas, experienced norovirus outbreaks during voyages from Los Angeles and Tampa, respectively. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 161 passengers and 22 crew members suffered from norovirus symptoms, marking six CDC-reported cruise ship norovirus outbreaks this year.

On the Sapphire Princess cruise, which left from Los Angeles with stops in Hawaii and the South Pacific, 94 of the 2,532 guests were ill, along with 20 crew members. The ship is scheduled to end its voyage on May 7. Meanwhile, on the Radiance of the Seas, 67 of the 1,993 passengers fell sick following norovirus outbreaks on US cruise ships in April, along with 2 of the 924 crew members.

Both cruise lines implemented increased cleaning and disinfection procedures and isolated ill passengers and crew to contain the spread of the highly contagious virus. Norovirus, which causes gastrointestinal illness, is easily transmitted in close quarters such as cruise ships.

Why this matters: The cruise industry has been hit hard by norovirus outbreaks in recent years, with 13 reported in 2023, the most since 2012. These incidents not only impact the health and well-being of passengers and crew but also raise concerns about the effectiveness of preventive measures and the industry's ability to handle such outbreaks.

The CDC has logged six outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships so far this year and recommends washing hands and staying hydrated for 'healthy cruising'. "Norovirus is very contagious and can spread easily in places like cruise ships where people are in close contact with each other," said a CDC spokesperson. "It is important for cruise lines to have robust sanitation and outbreak prevention protocols in place to minimize the risk of transmission."

Key Takeaways

• 2 cruise ships had norovirus outbreaks in April 2024, affecting 161 passengers.
• Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads easily on cruise ships.
• Cruise lines implemented cleaning and isolation measures to contain the outbreaks.
• Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships have increased, with 13 reported in 2023.
• CDC recommends hand-washing and hydration to prevent norovirus transmission on cruises.