Investigation Update on the Crown Princess

Cruise Line: Princess Cruises

Cruise Ship: Crown Princess

Voyage Dates: January 8 - 18, 2016

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 180 of 3,060 (5.88%)

Number of crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 24 of 1,168 (2.05%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea

Causative agent: Norovirus

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises and the crew aboard the ship reported the following actions:

• Increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan,
• Collecting stool specimens from passenger and crew gastrointestinal illness cases for testing,
• Making twice daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the VSP,
• Consulting with CDC on plans for their comprehensive sanitation procedures in Los Angeles, CA, on January 18, 2016, including
  • planned staged disembarkation for active cases to limit the opportunity of illness transmission to well guests, and
  • planned sanitation of terminal and transport infection control procedures.

Two CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officers and one epidemiologist boarded the ship in Los Angeles, CA, on January 18, 2016, to conduct an environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities. Specimens were collected and tested onboard using a norovirus rapid test; results were positive for norovirus. The specimens were sent to CDC for additional testing.