More than 170 people have been sickened by the norovirus that hit the Crown Princess after a trip that lasted for almost a month. Voyage dates were from October 18 to November 16.
According to the data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 158 out of the 3,009 passengers (5.25 percent) and 14 out of the 1,160 crew members (1.21 percent) on board have reported being ill during the voyage. It listed vomiting and diarrhea as the predominant symptoms.
Reuters meanwhile reported that the Princess Cruises' Crown Princess ship already docked in California on Sunday. They were met by several public health officials.
It also noted that the current outbreak is the second one in less than a year.
But Jim Walker's Cruise Law News said that at least five outbreaks on the Crown Princess ship have been recorded in just four years.
The first outbreak happened on January 28, 2012. CDC data showed that 364 out of the 3,103 passengers (11.73 percent) and 32 out of the 1,168 crew member (2.74 percent) were reported ill during the voyage.
This was followed by a second outbreak in February 4 that same year. CDC said that 288 out of the total 3,078 passengers (9.36 percent) and 75 out of the total 1,178 crew members (6.37 percent) were affected.
Cruise Law News also noted that another norovirus outbreak was recorded in December 2011. It added that an outbreak involving the Crown Princess was also reported April this year. It left 122 passengers and 30 crew members suffering from diarrhea and vomiting.
Susan Lomax, company spokesman, told Reuters what they are now doing to respond to the outbreak. "Over the last few days, the ship began seeing an increased number of gastrointestinal illnesses, caused by norovirus...In response, we have enacted our stringent disinfecting protocols developed in conjunction," she was quoted as saying.
Lomax also told Reuters that the ship will undergo "deep cleaning" before its next voyage to the Mexican Riviera.
According to CDC, the company is currently "increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures," and "making announcements to notify onboard passengers of the outbreak."
They are also now encouraging their passengers and crew members to report any cases of the disease and to practice proper hand hygiene.
The company has also been asked to collect stool specimens from ill passengers and crew for test. They were also instructed to inform their November 16 passengers about the outbreak.
The company is also tasked to coordinate with CDC about their comprehensive sanitation procedures. Their plan includes intensifying sanitization cleaning and disinfection. It was also revealed that a CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officer has been set to assess and evaluate the outbreak and response activities. The specimens that will be collected will be sent to the CDC lab for testing.
Reuters noted that the most common cause of gastrointestinal illness is the norovirus. It is estimated that around 20 million cases of norovirus are recorded in the US every year. This results in up to 800 deaths.