Norovirus Outbreak on Ruby Princess Sickens 125 During Alaska Cruise from San Francisco
Key Insights
A norovirus (search) outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess affected 102 passengers and 23 crew members during a 20-day round trip from San Francisco to Canada and Alaska.
The CDC reported the outbreak on Saturday; Princess Cruises (search) implemented enhanced sanitation protocols and cases have since decreased.
Norovirus (search) is highly contagious, spread through food, surfaces, or direct contact, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain lasting up to three days.
A norovirus (search) outbreak aboard Princess Cruises (search)' Ruby Princess has sickened 125 people — 102 passengers and 23 crew members — during a 20-day round trip voyage from San Francisco to Canada and Alaska, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Ruby Princess, which set sail on June 12 and docked in San Francisco on Thursday, carried 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew members. The outbreak was reported to the CDC on Saturday, with officials noting that not all infected individuals were sick at the same time or when the ship arrived or left port.
Outbreak Response and Sanitation Measures
Princess Cruises (search) said in a statement that the ship's crew "responded promptly by implementing enhanced sanitation protocols across the ship. Cases have since decreased and remain low." The vessel was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before departing for its next journey from San Francisco's Pier 27.
Norovirus (search): Transmission and Clinical Presentation
Norovirus (search) is highly contagious and often spreads through food or on surfaces, particularly in crowded conditions such as cruise ships. The CDC notes that outbreaks can also spread through food, water, or contaminated surfaces, with most occurring when infected individuals transmit the virus to others by direct means, such as sharing food or utensils.
Symptoms include sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain that can last up to three days. While the illness is short-lived for many people, it can be dangerous for individuals with underlying health conditions, young children, and those aged 65 and older.
Broader Context of Cruise Ship Outbreaks
So far this year, there have been seven illness outbreaks reported on cruise ships in the CDC's jurisdiction, mostly from norovirus (search), health officials said. In May, another Princess Cruises (search) ship, the Caribbean Princess, experienced a major stomach flu outbreak infecting 145 passengers and 15 crew members. Also in May, the British-flagged cruise ship Ambition reported a norovirus outbreak that prompted French health authorities in Bordeaux to order everyone to remain on board.
The deadliest cruise ship outbreak this year occurred aboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius in the South Atlantic, where the Andes variant of hantavirus (search) infected 13 people and resulted in three deaths. That outbreak, which began in April, prompted an international response led by the World Health Organization. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on Thursday that no new hantavirus cases linked to that outbreak have been reported since May 25, and the outbreak is officially over.