More than 90 passengers and crew members aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship have been struck down by Norovirus, just days before the vessel’s final stop in Miami. The outbreak on the Serenade of the Seas was reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday.
According to the CDC, 94 passengers and four crew members reported symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting during the voyage. The ship, which departed San Diego on 19 September, carries 1,874 passengers and 883 crew, meaning less than 4% of those on board were affected.
In response, crew have stepped up cleaning and disinfection procedures, collected stool samples for testing, and isolated those who are ill. Royal Caribbean stated that the health and safety of guests and crew is their top priority, and that they implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many exceeding public health guidelines.
The cruise line also consulted the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on sanitation procedures and reporting cases. The CDC is remotely monitoring the situation, including reviewing the ship’s outbreak response.
The Serenade of the Seas visited Mexico, the Panama Canal and Colombia before its scheduled arrival in Miami on Thursday. This is the 19th gastrointestinal outbreak on a cruise ship this year, with 14 caused by Norovirus.
