For the seventh time this year, a massive virus outbreak has taken place on a cruise ship.
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More than 100 passengers and crew members on board a cruise ship that docked in San Francisco on Thursday were infected with a stomach virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.
During its 20-day trek from San Francisco to Canada, 102 passengers and 23 crew members fell ill from norovirus while aboard the Ruby Princess.
The stomach virus is highly contagious. As noted by the CDC, the predominant symptoms among the infected on board were diarrhea and vomiting.
Often spread through contaminated food or surfaces, norovirus is an illness that people typically recover from within a few days. However, for those with underlying health issues, the virus poses a much larger threat.
In a statement shared with local news outlets, Princess Cruises said, "Our crew responded promptly by implementing enhanced sanitation protocols across the ship. Cases have since decreased and remain low."
Infected passengers and crew members were also isolated on board, but it's unclear if anyone was still sick when the ship docked in San Francisco.
There were 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew members on the Ruby Princess voyage, the CDC said.
CDC Details How to Prevent Spread of Norovirus
Norovirus, often called a "stomach bug," is contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
The virus causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines.
To help protect yourself from norovirus, the CDC released a list of preventive measures:
- Wash your hands well and often.
- Cook shellfish thoroughly and wash fruits and vegetables.
- Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces.
- Wash laundry in hot water.
For those who are stricken with the virus, the CDC recommends staying isolated and resting for two days, or until the symptoms subside.
Virus Outbreaks on Cruises Have Become an Alarming Trend
There have been seven outbreaks reported on cruise ships in the CDC's jurisdiction so far this year, five of which were caused by norovirus.
In April, a hantavirus outbreak resulted in three deaths and 13 infected passengers aboard the MV Hondius. Hantaviruses are typically carried by rodents and spread through their droppings and urine.
