ALERT: Norovirus Outbreak on Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess (August 11, 2017)
August 11, 2017
Brisbane’s Metro North Public Health Unit confirmed at least 91 cases of norovirus aboard a recent Sun Princess cruise.
The ship docked yesterday morning after a 10-day cruise of the South Pacific.
According to Travel Agent:
Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess was hit by a norovirus outbreak on a recent South Pacific cruise out of Brisbane, Australia.
The first case was reported on day one of the cruise, suggesting that the illness was introduced to the ship during embarkation in Brisbane, a Princess Cruises representative tells Travel Agent.
“Consistent with public health alerts that norovirus and influenza are widespread in the general community in Australia’s eastern states, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, proactive and successful steps were taken on board Sun Princess to limit any spread of the illness,” a Princess Cruises representative said. “Out of an abundance of caution in the light of the public health alerts, deep cleansing was conducted on the ship and in the terminal for the ship’s turnaround in Brisbane on August 9.”
Sun Princess’ next cruise is a seven-night itinerary out of Brisbane departing August 20, with calls at Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas and Willis Island.
ABC News in Australia reports:
As many as 91 [passengers] have been struck down by a norovirus aboard the Sun Princess cruise ship, which experienced back-to-back norovirus outbreaks in February.
The Sun Princess can carry 2,010 passengers and 924 crew.
A Carnival spokesman would not confirm numbers afflicted with norovirus on the latest cruise, but said the virus was currently widespread in the general community in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
“Proactive and successful steps were taken on board Sun Princess to limit any spread of the illness,” he said.
The spokesman said “out of abundance of caution”, deep cleansing was conducted on the ship and in the terminal for the ship’s turnaround in Brisbane on Thursday.
That had resulted in a slight delay in the ship’s scheduled departure.
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