- 125 passengers and crew aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship have been affected by a norovirus outbreak while docked in San Francisco, according to federal health officials.
- The Ruby Princess was on a 20-day round-trip journey from San Francisco to Canada and Alaska when 102 passengers and 23 crew members were stricken by norovirus, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The outbreak was reported to the CDC on Saturday, and not all infected individuals were sick at the same time or when the ship arrived or left port.
- 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew members were on board the Ruby Princess during the voyage, according to the CDC.
- In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises stated that the ship's crew implemented enhanced sanitation protocols across the ship.
The Ruby Princess cruise ship, which docked in San Francisco, has reported a norovirus outbreak affecting 125 individuals, including 102 passengers and 23 crew members. The outbreak was confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during the ship's 20-day voyage that began on June 12 and was scheduled to end on Thursday.123
The CDC noted that the outbreak was reported on Saturday, and not all infected individuals were ill simultaneously. The ship carried 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew members during the voyage. Symptoms of the illness include diarrhea and vomiting.4
In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises stated that the ship's crew implemented enhanced sanitation protocols and increased cleaning and disinfection procedures. They also collected stool specimens for testing and isolated sick passengers and crew members. The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program is monitoring the situation and reviewing the ship's response.5
This year, the CDC has reported seven illness outbreaks on cruise ships, primarily due to norovirus, highlighting the challenges of managing health on crowded vessels.
The Ruby Princess arrived in San Francisco on Thursday morning and was docked at Pier 27. Princess Cruises confirmed that the ship would undergo comprehensive cleaning and disinfection following the outbreak.
“The Ruby Princess, which recently docked in San Francisco, has seen a norovirus outbreak affecting 125 individuals. The CDC is monitoring the situation as enhanced sanitation protocols are implemented.”
NBC Bay Area
