Norovirus outbreak on Florida-bound cruise ship sickens 115 passengers and crew

More than 100 passengers and over a dozen crew members have fallen ill with norovirus aboard the Caribbean Princess during a 13-day voyage through the Eastern Caribbean. The Princess Cruises ship departed Port Everglades, Florida, last week and is scheduled to arrive at Port Canaveral in the state Monday. At the time of the outbreak, the vessel was carrying 3,116 passengers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 102 passengers became sick with the highly contagious stomach virus. In addition, 13 of the 1,131 crew members onboard also reported illness. Those affected experienced typical norovirus symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea, according to health officials. The virus is known for spreading rapidly in close-contact environments such as cruise ships, where shared dining spaces and frequently touched surfaces can make containment difficult once an outbreak begins.