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More experienced people gastrointestinal diseases aboard a cruise ship in 2024 than in any other year since 2012, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC reported that there were 16 outbreaks of stomach diseases on board cruise ships last year, which affected 1,894 passengers and 245 crew members. The data showed there were also 16 outbreaks of stomach bugs in 2012, but indicated that illnesses on board had plummeted during the covid-19 pandemic.
The decline came after the cruise industry to close for over a year and then restarted with limited capacity and more cleaning protocols in place, the Washington Post reported.
Five of the cruise ship outbreaks occurred in December alone, according to CDC data. These outbreaks caused 781 passengers and 109 crew members to become ill, most of whom suffered from diarrhea and vomiting.
In three of the five outbreaks, norovirus – the highly contagious virus that causes stomach ailments – was the main culprit, officials said. CDC data shows that of the 16 outbreaks, 14 were caused by norovirus while the other two were caused by E. coli and salmonella.
The CDC also noted that norovirus cases have continued to rise in the United States. The agency said most virus cases are seen between November and April. However, federal health officials warn that cases of the virus could appear at any time.
On an annual basis, norovirus it causes an average of 19 million to 21 million illnesses and more than 100,000 hospitalizations, according to the Post. Health experts told the outlet that cases of the virus may become more common in crowded, semi-enclosed environments often found on cruise ships.
The CDC found that between 2006 and 2019, an average of 12 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses occurred on cruise ships.
