Suspected norovirus outbreak on second Caribbean cruise

Saturday, 03 Feb, 2014 0

For the second time in a week, a Caribbean cruise has been cut short to return home after a suspected norovirus outbreak on board.

In the latest incident, the Caribbean Princess arrived back at Houston’s Bayport Cruise terminal last Friday after an estimated 165 passengers were struck with a gastrointestinal illness consistent with norovirus, according to officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The vessel had been on a western Caribbean cruise since January 25 and was originally due back in Houston on Saturday.

Norovirus is a fast moving, highly contagious infection that causes strong vomiting and diarrhea.

Princess Cruises spokeswoman Julie Benson said no passengers are expected to be admitted to hospital, adding that all will be provided with overnight accommodation and will receive a 20% credit for a future cruise.

Benson said the vessel would"undergo a thorough sanitisation" before the next scheduled cruise.

The cruise line also said the reason for cutting short the voyage was due to fog.

This latest outbreak is the third so far this year.

Norovirus is also suspected as the cause of an outbreak earlier last week on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas which affected over 600 passengers and crew.

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Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.

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