About 30 US cruise ship passengers mysteriously become ill with diarrhea.

Photo-New York Post

Nearly 30 passengers aboard a luxury cruise ship fell ill with a gastrointestinal illness, despite Silversea Cruises' reputation for exceptional cuisine, as reported by the New York Post. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disclosed on Monday that during the ship's 16-day voyage from Peru, at least 28 of the 633 passengers onboard the Silver Nova, along with one crew member, reported feeling unwell. The predominant symptom reported was diarrhea. While the exact source of the outbreak affecting approximately 5% of the passengers remains unknown, the CDC indicated that contaminated food or water is typically the primary cause of norovirus outbreaks.

In response to the outbreak, the cruise ship's crew made announcements to both staff and guests, encouraging them to report any instances of illness and maintain proper hand hygiene. Silversea Cruises implemented quarantine measures for affected passengers and heightened cleaning and disinfection protocols. A spokesperson for Silversea Cruises emphasized their commitment to prioritizing the health and safety of guests, crew, and the communities they visit. The "Easter-themed" cruise commenced in Peru on March 31 and concluded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Tuesday.

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According to CruiseMapper, the starting price for a double occupancy room on the 16-day voyage was $11,700. This incident follows a similar occurrence in February involving passengers aboard a Cunard Cruise Line ship in the US, where several individuals experienced vomiting and diarrhea. At least 123 passengers and 16 crew members aboard the Queen Victoria reported falling ill since the voyage began on January 22 from Florida. While the cause of the gastrointestinal illness remained unknown, health officials noted that diarrhea and vomiting were the primary symptoms.

Additionally, weeks prior to this incident, passengers aboard a Florida-based cruise ship reported symptoms of gastroenteritis shortly after departure from Jacksonville. One passenger described her illness as severe, resulting in blue-colored vomit, prompting concerns of poisoning. The series of illness outbreaks underscores the challenges faced by cruise operators in maintaining health and safety standards amidst the ongoing risk of contagious diseases during voyages.