The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed a norovirus outbreak on the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, with 102 passengers and 13 crew members reporting symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting. The outbreak was reported to the CDC on May 7 during the ship's April 28 to May 11 voyage. The vessel, currently in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, is scheduled to arrive at Port Canaveral, Florida, on May 11. There are 3,116 passengers and 1,131 crew members on board.
In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, collected stool specimens for testing, isolated sick passengers and crew, and consulted with the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program. The ship will undergo comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before departing for its next voyage. This is the fourth gastrointestinal illness outbreak reported on a U.S. cruise ship this year, according to the CDC. The outbreak is unrelated to the current hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.