Norovirus Sickens 89 on Rotterdam Cruise Ship

Nearly 90 passengers and crew members aboard the Holland America Line cruise ship Rotterdam fell ill with norovirus during a 12-day voyage that departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 28 and returned on January 9.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the outbreak through its Vessel Sanitation Program, which reported that 81 of the ship's 2,593 passengers and 8 of its 1,005 crew members experienced gastrointestinal symptoms, primarily vomiting and diarrhea. Other common signs included nausea, stomach pain, headache, fever, and body aches. The virus, highly contagious and spread through contaminated food, drinks, or surfaces, typically causes symptoms 12 to 48 hours after exposure. Health officials noted that the exact point of origin remains unclear, given the ship's itinerary that included stops in the Bahamas, Curaçao, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica.

In response, the crew implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols in line with CDC guidelines. They isolated affected individuals, collected stool samples for testing, and consulted the agency's Vessel Sanitation Program for ongoing monitoring. Cruise lines must...