Over 200 passengers on a luxury UK-bound cruise ship have been affected by a norovirus outbreak as health experts have issued a warning on what to expect.
The Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line's flagship ocean liner, departed from Southampton, on March 8 for a 29-night voyage.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) reported an outbreak on March 18, after the ship made a stop in New York City, with passengers and crew experiencing symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 224 passengers out of the 2,538 on board were affected along with 17 crew members.
The Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line's flagship ocean liner, departed from Southampton, on March 8 for a 29-night voyage
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They have reportedly been isolated and the ship has taken sanitsing measures.
In addition to the stop in New York, the ship had docked in St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts and Tortola.
The ship is currently on its way back to Southampton, set to arrive on April 6, according to Cruise Mapper.
Passengers reportedly paid a minimum of £2,249 per person for the luxury voyage.
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A statement released by Cunard on Tuesday said affected guests were being closely monitored.
The statement read: “Thanks to the swift response from our crew and the additional measures that we have in place, we are already seeing a reduction in reported cases.”
Launched in 2004, the Queen Mary 2 spans 1,132 feet, making it one of the largest ocean liners in the world.
In 2013, a Times reporter recounted his experience aboard the QM2, which included a departure delay caused by a "near-military-level" cleaning operation following a norovirus outbreak that affected more than 200 passengers.
People infected by Norovirus typically develop symptoms within 12 to 48 hours of exposure
PA/CDCNorovirus, a gastrointestinal illness, is particularly prevalent in confined environments like healthcare facilities, dormitories, and cruise ships, where people are in close quarters.
People infected typically develop symptoms within 12 to 48 hours of exposure.
It spreads through contact or contaminated food or water, and while there is no specific treatment, most people recover within a few days.
However, it can cause dehydration in young children, the elderly, and those with other illnesses.
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