More than 175 people onboard a Celebrity Summit cruise to Bermuda have reported feeling sick with norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak occurred during the voyage from May 15 to 25, affecting 152 passengers out of the 2,144 onboard, as well as 25 crew members, the CDC stated.
The individuals who fell ill experienced symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and headaches.
In response to the outbreak, the Summit's crew implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures in accordance with the ship's outbreak prevention and response plan.
The crew also promptly notified the current guests about the situation onboard and encouraged illness reporting and good hand hygiene.
Stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases were collected and sent to the CDC laboratory for further analysis.
Addressing the incident, a spokesperson from Celebrity Cruises said: "The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority.
"We implement rigorous safety and cleaning procedures on board our ships, many of which go above and beyond public health guidelines. These efforts enable us to maintain some of the lowest levels of community spread."
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
According to the CDC, to protect yourself and others from norovirus:
- Wash your hands often
- Rinse fruits and vegetables
- Cook shellfish thoroughly
- Stay home when sick and for two days after symptoms stop
- Avoid preparing food for others when sick and for two days after symptoms stop
A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days, but they can still spread the virus for a few days after.
The CDC states on its website that norovirus outbreaks can occur at any time but are more common from November to April.
Norovirus is recognized as the primary cause of vomiting, diarrhoea, and foodborne illness in the United States, spreading easily and quickly among people of all ages.
The recent outbreak on the Celebrity Summit marks the third norovirus incident aboard a Celebrity Cruises ship this year, as indicated by CDC data.
In March, norovirus outbreaks were reported on Celebrity's Equinox and Constellation ships.
During a voyage from March 9 to 18, the Equinox witnessed 122 out of 2,579 passengers and 14 crew members experiencing symptoms of "vomiting and diarrhoea."
The Constellation outbreak, occurring from March 6 to 17, affected 87 out of 2,062 passengers and nine crew members with similar norovirus symptoms.
