The number of gastrointestinal sickness outbreaks including norovirus and Enterotoxigenic E. coli on cruise ships fell to its lowest level since 2001 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Seven different ships reported a total of nine outbreaks in 2014, which is the same number as in 2013, although it is a proportionally lower rate based on the increased passenger capacity in 2014.
Two ships were struck twice with norovirus during the last year – Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess and two concurrent outbreaks aboard Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas.
The CDC classifies an outbreak at sea if infected people exceeds 3% of the total number of passengers and crew on ships carrying at least 100 passengers.
The CDC estimates that more than 19 million people in the US are struck down with norovirus every year.
The CDC began recording shipboard sickness outbreaks in 1994, and peaked in 2006 with 33 confirmed outbreaks recorded.
