A major outbreak of the highly contagious norovirus has struck a luxury cruise ship on a four-month global journey, leaving more than 100 people ill.
Outbreak Details and Ship's Itinerary
The incident is occurring aboard the AIDAdiva, a vessel operated by the German cruise line AIDA. The ship embarked on its 133-day voyage from Hamburg on November 10, with a schedule that includes stops in numerous countries such as the United States, England, Mexico, Japan, and South Africa. The journey is not due to conclude until March 2026 when it returns to its German home port.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak was formally reported on November 30. This followed port calls in several American cities, including Boston, New York, Miami, and Charleston. The CDC's data indicates that 95 of the 2,007 passengers and six of the 640 crew members have reported symptoms, primarily diarrhoea and vomiting.
Response and Containment Measures
In response to the spreading illness, the ship's crew swiftly enacted strict infection control protocols. The CDC confirmed that these measures included isolating ill individuals, significantly increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures across the vessel, and collecting stool samples from affected people for laboratory testing.
A spokesperson for AIDA Cruises stated that after implementing additional hygiene measures, the number of new cases has started to decrease. The company also noted that seasonal illness peaks between November and April and that the pattern of infection on the ship mirrors what is being seen in communities on land.
A Recurring Challenge for Cruise Lines
This outbreak is not an isolated event in the cruise industry. Just weeks earlier, a Royal Caribbean ship, the Serenade of the Seas, experienced a similar norovirus outbreak affecting over 90 people in late September.
The CDC has reported 21 confirmed outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships so far this year, with 16 of those attributed to norovirus. This follows 15 out of 18 outbreaks in 2024 and 13 out of 14 in 2023 being caused by the same virus.
Health officials have observed that while outbreak numbers on ships are higher than pre-pandemic levels, they typically follow trends seen on land. The CDC has identified a newly dominant strain of norovirus currently associated with outbreaks in the general population.
Often called the 'winter vomiting bug', norovirus, while extremely unpleasant, usually resolves within a couple of days. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, a high temperature, headache, and aching limbs. Health advice for recovery focuses on rest, staying hydrated, and avoiding rich foods.
