A mysterious gastrointestinal outbreak on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has left 180 passengers on board and three staff members suffering unpleasant symptoms.
Those aboard the Radiance of the Seas ship reported experiencing diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headaches and muscle aches during a voyage in Alaska.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the as-yet-unknown illness affected those aboard the Sept. 20-27 voyage.
The same ship suffered a norovirus outbreak earlier this year. This causes similar symptoms, although the cause of the latest mass illness has not yet been identified.
Just over 8 percent of the 2,172 passengers on board fell ill, equal to 180, while three crew members of the 894 employees on board also reported falling ill.
Due to the outbreak, crew members raised the alarm and encouraged passengers to report cases and maintain good hand hygiene.
Those aboard the Radiance of the Seas ship have reported experiencing diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headaches, and muscle aches.
This latest outbreak is the second this year aboard Radiance of the Seas after nearly 70 people contracted norovirus in April. Seen here is a computer illustration of Norovirus.
Other measures included increased cleaning and disinfection to help contain it.
In a statement, Royal Caribbean said: “The health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit are our top priority.”
“To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety aboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.”
This latest outbreak is the second this year aboard Radiance of the Seas, after nearly 70 people contracted norovirus in April.
On a voyage from Tampa, Florida, to Los Angeles, California, 67 of the 1,993 passengers on board fell ill, as did two crew members.
In 2024, the CDC recorded 10 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks that met its threshold for notifying the public. Norovirus has been listed as the reason in all but three of them.
In April, the epidemiologist and chief of infectious diseases at NYU Langone Health’s Tisch Hospital said that cruise ships were not unique and that the virus spread in any environment.
she said USA today: ‘There is nothing special or unique about cruises.
Norovirus infections are caused by a group of viruses that spread very easily and can take as few as 10 particles to make someone sick.
‘It’s really any type of congregate setting, but it also happens in the community on a much smaller scale between households and household contacts.
“It just doesn’t draw as much public health attention as it does in larger congregate settings.”
Norovirus infections are caused by a group of viruses that spread very easily and can take as few as 10 particles to make someone sick.
It can be transmitted from person to person, through food or water, or on contaminated surfaces, including doorknobs or handrails.
The main symptoms are nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Some people also have a high temperature, headache, and pain in their arms and legs.
In severe cases, some people may need to be hospitalized, with the elderly and children most at risk.