Norovirus outbreak on Royal Caribbean cruise sickens over 70 people aboard

Over 70 people aboard a 13-day Royal Caribbean cruise have reportedly fallen ill from norovirus ahead of its final destination in Miami, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The outbreak on the Royal Caribbean International ship Serenade of the Seas, which departed from San Diego on Sept. 19 and is scheduled to arrive in Miami on Thursday, was reported to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on Sunday. The program is set to help prevent and control the introduction and spread of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships.

The CDC reported that 71 out of 1,874 passengers and one of 883 crew members have “reported being ill during the voyage,” and noted that predominant symptoms included diarrhea and vomiting.

In response to the outbreak, the crew aboard the ship has increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, collected stool specimens from passengers with gastrointestinal illnesses for testing, and isolated ill passengers and crew, according to the CDC.

“The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority,” a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told NBC News. “To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.”

Norovirus is a common, highly contagious illness that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain, typically occurring 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus. People can contract norovirus through contaminated objects, surfaces, food or liquids, as well as sharing meals or utensils with someone who has the illness.

There have been 19 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships so far this year, 14 of which were caused by norovirus, as recorded by the CDC.

“Gastrointestinal illnesses, like those caused by norovirus, are very contagious. They can spread quickly in closed and semienclosed environments, such as cruise ships,” the CDC said.