According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on Thursday, over 130 individuals on board the Queen Victoria cruise ship, operated by Cunard Cruise Line, experienced digestive issues attributed to an unidentified illness.
The CDC’s findings indicated that among the 1,824 passengers on the vessel, 123 individuals reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea and vomiting. Additionally, 16 out of the 967 crew members also reported similar symptoms. This amounted to nearly 7% of passengers and close to 2% of the crew, as highlighted by the CDC.
As of the latest update, the specific cause of the illness remains undetermined. It is important to note that the reported case count represents the cumulative number of cases for the entire duration of the voyage, rather than indicating active cases at the time of reporting.
The current leg of the cruise ship’s journey commenced on January 22, with the overall world voyage commencing on January 11 in Southampton, England. According to information provided by Cunard’s website, the ship embarked from Fort Lauderdale on January 22, with the 109-day world voyage scheduled to conclude on April 28 upon its return to England.
In response to the health concerns raised, the ship’s crew implemented heightened sanitation measures and took steps to isolate affected individuals, as outlined by the Vessel Sanitation Program.
At the time of reporting, Cunard Cruise Line had not provided a response to Nexstar’s request for comment or further details regarding the situation.