More than 100 passengers and 23 crew members aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship have fallen ill with suspected norovirus, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed. The outbreak is the third to hit a Princess Cruises vessel this year.
The Ruby Princess departed San Francisco on 12 June for a voyage to Alaska and Canada, scheduled to return on 2 July. The CDC was notified of the outbreak after more than 3% of passengers reported symptoms. The ship carried 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew members.
The vessel docked in San Francisco on Thursday for disinfection. Norovirus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, spreads easily through contact with contaminated surfaces or tiny particles of faeces or vomit. Health officials stress the importance of handwashing with soap and water to prevent transmission.
Princess Cruises has not commented on the cause of the outbreak. Ill passengers and crew have been isolated while the ship undergoes cleaning. This year has seen six other norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships, which can be breeding grounds for illness due to close quarters.
