Look what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
More than 150 people aboard a Princess Cruises ship fell ill with norovirus during a Caribbean trip this week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak occurred aboard the Star Princess during a March 7-14 voyage, according to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), which monitors the disease on cruise ships.
Those reported sick included 104 passengers and 49 crew members — for a total of 4,307 passengers and 1,561 crew members, the CDC said.
The outbreak was reported to VSP on March 11, less than a week after the start of the trip.
BABY FOOD WITHDRAWED NATIONALLY AFTER DANGEROUS TOXIN FOUND IN FEDERAL TESTING RAISES HEALTH CONCERNS
According to the CDC, the most commonly reported symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting, typical signs of a norovirus infection.
In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises has increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, isolated sick passengers and crew, and collected stool samples from sick individuals for testing, the CDC said.
GROUND STOP LIMITED AT MAJOR DC AREA AIRPORTS AFTER CHEMICAL SMELL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL DISRUPTION
Ship officials also consulted with CDC health officials about sanitary practices and case reporting, according to the agency.
The VSP is conducting an environmental assessment and outbreak investigation to help the ship control the spread of the disease.
The tracking site CruiseMapper showed the ship docked in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday before continuing its journey. The itinerary indicated the ship would visit Princess Cays in the Bahamas later Sunday.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that often causes vomiting and diarrhea and can spread quickly in close environments, such as on cruise ships, health officials said.
FILE: A view of the Center for Disease Control headquarters sign is seen in Atlanta on August 6, 2022. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The CDC notes that illness totals reported during a cruise represent the cumulative number of cases over the entire voyage — not necessarily people who were sick at the same time.
CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO
Cruise ships are required to report cases of gastrointestinal illness to the CDC, which tracks outbreaks and works with cruise lines to implement sanitation and containment measures when they occur.
