A norovirus outbreak aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has affected 71 passengers and one crew member during a voyage from San Diego to Miami. The Serenade of the Seas departed on Sept. 19 with 1,874 passengers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received notice of the illness on Sept. 28. Passengers experienced diarrhea and vomiting caused by the highly contagious virus that spreads rapidly in confined spaces.
Royal Caribbean responded by increasing sanitation efforts, separating sick individuals from healthy passengers, and collecting samples for laboratory analysis. The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program is tracking the situation remotely and examining the company's containment protocols. The most severe cruise ship norovirus case this year occurred on Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 in March when 266 passengers and 19 crew members fell ill during an Atlantic crossing.
Royal Caribbean responded by increasing sanitation efforts, separating sick individuals from healthy passengers, and collecting samples for laboratory analysis. The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program is tracking the situation remotely and examining the company's containment protocols. The most severe cruise ship norovirus case this year occurred on Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 in March when 266 passengers and 19 crew members fell ill during an Atlantic crossing.
