WASHINGTON — Health authorities in Hong Kong are investigating a suspected outbreak of Norovirus aboard an American-owned cruise ship after dozens of passengers and crew reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness during a multi-country voyage.
The Centre for Health Protection said Sunday it identified 76 people who developed acute gastroenteritis symptoms aboard the MS Westerdam, a Holland America Line ship which arrived at the island nation on March 1.
The ship has been operating a circular cruise route since Feb. 15, stopping at several ports including multiple cities in Japan, Busan in South Korea and Shanghai. The possibility of a norovirus outbreak on the ship raises the specter of a more widespread infection across all of those locations.
About 2,000 passengers and 800 crew members were on the vessel when it arrived in Hong Kong around 4 a.m., officials said in a statement.
Dozens fall ill during voyage
According to investigators, 65 passengers and 11 crew members experienced symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea and fever between Feb. 15 and the ship’s arrival in Hong Kong. The patients ranged in age from 24 to 92.
The first two passengers who became ill boarded the cruise ship in Japan on Feb. 15 and developed symptoms the same day, officials said. Additional cases were reported throughout the trip, and investigators found some affected individuals vomited in public areas on board.
Preliminary laboratory testing conducted on the ship found that stool samples from seven patients tested positive for norovirus. Further testing will be carried out by Hong Kong’s public health laboratory services.
Officials said most of those affected experienced mild illness and remained in stable condition. By the time the ship arrived in Hong Kong, only three individuals still had mild symptoms and none required hospitalization.
What is norovirus?
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that commonly causes food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms typically include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and low-grade fever.
Illness usually resolves within one to three days, though outbreaks can spread quickly in crowded environments such as schools, hotels and cruise ships.
Health officials advise travelers to practice good hygiene, including washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly before eating or handling food and after using the restroom. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective at killing norovirus, authorities said.
MS Westerdam determined to be clean, continues its journey
Medical and public health personnel boarded the vessel after its arrival to conduct investigations and inspect environmental and food hygiene conditions. Authorities also set up a temporary medical station at the cruise terminal to assess passengers’ health.
Hong kong officials instructed the cruise operator to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ship before passengers reboarded.
After inspections confirmed sanitation conditions were satisfactory, passengers and crew were allowed to board the ship again. The vessel then departed Hong Kong for the Philippines.
Nearly 80 sick after Holland America ship traveling through Asia suspected of norovirus outbreak
