More than 100 passengers and crew members have been affected by a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on a 133-day cruise voyage.
The AIDAdiva ship, belonging to the German cruise line AIDA, embarked on its four-month journey from Hamburg on November 10, making stops in various countries such as the US, England, Mexico, Japan, and South Africa. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a norovirus outbreak on November 30 after the ship visited Boston, New York, Miami, and Charleston.
Upon detection of the outbreak, the crew swiftly implemented infection control measures, which included enhanced cleaning protocols, isolating sick individuals, and intensifying disinfection procedures. Stool samples from affected passengers and crew were also collected for testing.
According to the CDC, 95 out of 2,007 passengers and six out of 640 crew members experienced symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. AIDA Cruises informed that after implementing additional hygiene measures, the number of cases started to decline.
The cruise is scheduled to end in March 2026 upon its return to Hamburg. This incident follows a recent outbreak on a Royal Caribbean cruise, where over 90 passengers were affected by norovirus.
The CDC reported that on the Serenade of the Seas cruise, which departed from San Diego and visited Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, 94 out of 1,874 passengers and four out of 883 crew members fell ill during the voyage.
In the current year, the CDC has documented 21 confirmed gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships, with 16 attributed to norovirus. The agency highlighted that a dominant strain of norovirus has been linked to recent outbreaks both on land and at sea.
Norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, typically resolves within a couple of days. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, headache, and body aches. The NHS recommends rest, hydration, avoiding certain foods, and taking pain relievers if needed for recovery.
AIDA Cruises stated that the rise in illness cases aligns with seasonal patterns from November to April, prompting the implementation of additional hygiene measures onboard to combat the spread of infections.