More than 100 passengers have come down with norovirus on board the Caribbean Princess (Picture: Princess Cruises)
Yet another cruise has been hit by a viral outbreak after more than 100 passengers fell ill with a sickness bug.
The severe vomiting bug has ripped through the Caribbean Princess, which is currently on its way to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.
A total of 102 passengers and 13 crew have come down with the contagious disease, which can cause violent enough symptoms to crack ribs.
Authorities have been informed about the situation onboard the huge vessel, which is carrying 3,116 passengers and 1,131 crew members, Daily Mail reported.
Sanitation measures have been stepped up on the ship, with testing and isolation in place for passengers and staff who show symptoms.
Operator Princess Cruises said all areas of the boat had been sanitised and extensive cleaning would take place as soon as it arrived in Port Canaveral on May 11.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
The cruise set off on April 28, and the outbreak was reported to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on May 7.
It said the predominant symptoms reported are diarrhoea and vomiting.
CDC said that the crew on board the ship has reported increased cleaning and disinfection according to their outbreak prevention and response plan, collected samples from affected people for testing and isolated ill passengers and crew.
Metro approached Princess Cruises for a comment.
Around 21 million cases of norovirus are recorded in the US every year.
The disease, which causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea, is spread through surfaces, infected food and faeces.
The gastrointestinal virus outbreak is the fourth to hit a US ship this year so far, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
It comes as authorities in Tenerife are preparing to welcome the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius on Sunday.
Staff prepare for the arrival of MV Hondius in Tenerife, where it is expected to dock on Sunday (Picture: ANP/Shutterstock)
British passengers will be tested and, if negative, will be allowed to board a dedicated repatriation flight, the UKHSA has said.
All 22 Britons will be asked to isolate for 45 days on arrival in the UK and to self-test.
Experts are still studying the virus, with human-to-human transmission thought possible following close contact with infected people.
Nine cases of the potentially deadly virus have been linked so far to the MV Hondius.
This includes two British men, with a further Briton currently isolating in St Helena.
A statement from the UKHSA said: ‘UK Government staff will be on the ground ready to support the British nationals disembarking.
‘British passengers and ship crew not displaying any symptoms of hantavirus will be escorted by UK Government staff to an airport and given free passage back to the UK.’
It added: ‘UKHSA is working with partners to ensure the flight operates under strict infection control measures.
‘Public health and infectious disease specialists from UKHSA and the NHS will be on board to monitor British nationals whilst on the flight, to ensure that preventative measures are in place and to provide any care in the unlikely event that any passengers become unwell on the flight.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Arrow
MORE: Everything you need to know about the hantavirus as another Brit is diagnosed
Arrow
MORE: Four British tourists who left hantavirus cruise early still on remote island
Arrow
MORE: Family mourn final ‘beautiful journey’ of couple who died on ‘hantavirus’ cruise
Comments
Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google
Add as preferred source
News Updates
Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.