By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Federal health officials report investigating a gastrointestinal disease outbreak on a Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess February 2–16, 2020 voyage.
To date, 190 passengers and crew have experienced symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The exact etiology of the outbreak has not been determined.
In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises and crew aboard the ship reported the following actions:
- Increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan.
- Making daily Captain’s announcements and distributing written health advisories to passengers.
- Sending daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP).
- Collecting stool specimens from passenger and/or crew gastrointestinal illness cases and sending specimens for testing.
VSP is assisting the cruise line to investigate the causative agent and prevent further spread of illness.
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There are a lot more cases than what they are reporting. They did not take stool samples from Any of our family onboard. This is a lie in the report.
We had 7 of 8 people sick with the virus. It took them over 24 hours to diagnose my 2 1/2 year old. Staff is very rude.
The cleanliness on the ship does not go as far as the day it does.
The ship is returning to Ft Lauderdale on Thursday now instead of Sunday.
3000 peoples vacations have been ruined. Please get is a reporter to see us when we get off the ship.
Keith – also on Princess and currently in direct comms with them as we have refused the 50% refund offer as not in any way proportionate to the 75% of ports missed – we just want a fair offer. Happy to keep you updated if interested, add me on the ship app chat function.
Currently on the Caribbean Princess and the boat was turned around yesterday at 10.30pm and is now returning to Fort Launderdale. We have been told anticipated arrival is 13th Feb, three days early. Information is limited on board, nothing yet communicated on what passengers will be offered re flights home and compensation so understandably people onboard are very angry. Also, only 3 out of 8 ports have been visited so expectation is full refund from Princess!