Passengers onboard the cruise ship Crown Princess which left Quebec City, on October 25, have been hit with an aggressive outbreak of gastro virus. Ship authorities have reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 97 people being ill on the current voyage (94 passengers and 3 crew members), with predominant symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises and the crew onboard Crown Princess reported the following actions:
- Increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan,
- Collecting stool specimens from passenger and crew gastrointestinal illness cases for testing, and
- Making twice daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to VSP.
The crew is doing their best to try to contain the spread of the virus following the Vessel Sanitation Program. Affected passengers are being treated on board by the ship’s doctors and with over-the-counter medication. Health experts recommend simple hand hygiene is the best defense against Norovirus, avoid handshakes, and touching railings in the public areas.
Crown Princess departed Quebec on October 25, for a 14 Nights Canada and US voyage. The vessel is expected to arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 8, starting its Caribbean season.
