NewsDesk @bactiman63

The March 11–March 23, 2023 voyage of Royal Caribbean International’s Enchantment of the Seas is the seventh and latest cruise ship outbreak the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating.

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On this latest outbreak, 97 passengers and crew were struck with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The causative etiology of the outbreak is unknown.

Prior to this outbreak, CDC-VSP had/or is investigating gastrointestinal outbreaks on Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Constellation, Royal Caribbean International’s Jewel of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas, Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess and P&O Cruises’ Arcadia.

Only the Arcadia outbreak had a etiology identified to date–norovirus.

Norovirus is a very contagious virus. You can get norovirus from an infected person, from contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed (acute gastroenteritis). This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up.