Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials reported gastrointestinal outbreak this week aboard the cruise ship Island Princess. According to CDC report, a total of 83 passengers and 8 crew members onboard the Island Princess were stricken with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea during the February 8–18, 10 Night Panama Canal with Costa Rica & Caribbean voyage.

Following the Vessel Sanitation Program, the crew has implemented necessary procedures to try to contain the spread of the virus. Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures to Level 3 were implemented according to the ships outbreak prevention and response plan. Ship’s officers made twice a day reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) and consulted with VSP on plans for their comprehensive sanitation cleaning procedures in Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on February 18, 2019. Affected passengers and crew were isolated in their cabins and were treated on board by the ship’s doctors with over-the-counter medication.

Last year there was also an outbreak on the cruise ship Island Princess when 78 passengers and crew were stricken with predominant symptoms of diarrhea. According to CDC the causative agent during the January 9–24, 2018 voyage was Norovirus and Campylobacter.