Over 220 Passengers Fall Ill on 2 Cruise Ships in San Diego

228 people have gotten ill with norovirus-like symptoms on two cruise ships, which are to undergo dissinfection in San Diego, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Monday.

106 passengers and 6 crew members onboard Celebrity Infinity caught what was confirmed by CDC to be norovirus. The virus-stricken passengers and crew exhibited symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Celebrity Cruises, the owner and operator of the ship, responded to the outbreak by providing additional cleaning crew to complete public and accommodation super-sanitization cleaning and disinfection, and a staged disembarkation for active cases to limit the opportunity of illness transmission to well guests.

The vessel was boarded by CDC staff in San Diego, April 13, to conduct an environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities.

The Celebrity Infinity left San Diego on March 29 for a two-week cruise with stops in Mexico.

Just one day later, 114 passengers and 2 crew members aboard Legend of the Seas reported norovirus-like symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. However, CDC has yet to determine the cause of the outbreak on this vessel.

Royal Carribean Lines, the owner of the vessel, said that the company is ”undertaking direction from the CDC to inhibit the sickness and prevent further outbreaks.”

Legend of the Seas is currently on a two week cruise that started on March 30 and continues until April 14, 2015.

World Maritime News Staff; Image: RCL