An outbreak of gastrointestinal illness aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has left 180 passengers and three crew members suffering from unpleasant symptoms including diarrhea and abdominal pain, health officials said.
Just under 9% of the 2,172 passengers onboard the Radiance of the Seas reported contracting an unknown illness during its voyage to Alaska from September 20 to September 27. According to the CDC.
In addition to the 180 vacationers, three of the 894 crew members also reported feeling ill.
Infected passengers and crew members experienced symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal pain, headaches, and muscle aches, according to the CDC.
Crew members warned passengers of the outbreak, using onboard announcements urging them to practice good hand hygiene and to report if they felt sick. Additionally, disinfection and cleaning measures have been strengthened to prevent the spread of infection.
“The health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit is our top priority,” a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said. told USA TODAY In a statement. “To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety on board, we have implemented rigorous cleaning protocols, many of which go well beyond public health guidelines.”
Royal Caribbean did not respond to a request for comment.
Health officials said stool samples were taken from the infected person for testing, but the agent responsible for the spread of the infection is unknown.
The outbreak on Royal Caribbean is the 10th outbreak this year on a cruise ship that includes a port call in the United States. According to the CDC. Norovirus is behind most outbreaks, and one was caused by E. coli.
