A recent gastrointestinal illness outbreak on the National Geographic Sea Bird, an Alaska Expedition ship, has affected about a third of its passengers. This marks the ship’s third outbreak since late May, according to health officials.
The incident was reported on July 12, just two days after the ship departed from Sitka and three days before it was scheduled to reach Juneau on July 15. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) provided the update.
The CDC noted that 18 out of 62 passengers were experiencing symptoms like vomiting and abdominal pain.
To manage the situation, the crew isolated the affected passengers and stepped up cleaning and disinfection efforts in line with their outbreak response plan.
As of now, the source of the illness remains unidentified, the CDC reported.
Health officials mentioned that VSP is monitoring the situation remotely, ensuring that appropriate measures are taken and sanitary procedures are reviewed.
Infected passengers have been asked to supply samples, such as stool or vomit, to aid in pinpointing the cause of the outbreak. Confirmatory testing on these samples is still pending, according to VSP.
This outbreak is the third of its kind reported on the 152-foot vessel operated by Lindblad Expeditions since late May. Of eight total cruise ship outbreaks recorded at U.S. ports in 2026, the Sea Bird is notably the only one to experience multiple incidents.
Previously, between May 26 and May 31, nine passengers and three crew members had reported illness during a voyage. Then, a few weeks later, 20 of the 95 individuals aboard fell ill while traveling between Juneau and Ketchikan.
In both earlier cases, norovirus was indicated as the culprit. This virus is highly contagious and can cause abrupt and severe stomach issues, including vomiting and diarrhea, though it is not related to the flu.
A representative from Lindblad Expeditions has yet to respond to inquiries.
Unfortunately, the Sea Bird’s troubles aren’t an isolated occurrence in the cruise industry this year. An April outbreak aboard the MV Hondius raised alarms, resulting in the deaths of three passengers.
Additionally, the Caribbean Princess experienced a norovirus outbreak in May, which affected over 100 passengers, according to the CDC.
The Sea Bird’s latest issue with norovirus follows a separate health scare in the U.S., where a customer at Taco Bell suffered severe diarrhea after trying a new menu item. The diagnosis was cyclosporiasis, linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce.
This outbreak has led to about 7,000 illnesses in 34 states, mostly attributed to lettuce from Taylor Farms served at Taco Bell. Although there have been 94 hospitalizations, fortunately, there have been no reported deaths, as per the CDC.
