Investigation Update on the Crown Princess

Cruise Line: Princess Cruises

Cruise Ship: Crown Princess

Voyage Dates: February 4 – February 9, 2012
(scheduled end of voyage: February 11, 2012)

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 288 of 3078 (9.36%)

Number of crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 75 of 1178 (6.37%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea

Causative agent: Norovirus

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

• Cancelled all foreign ports of call and returned to Ft. Lauderdale 2 days before their planned end of voyage,
• Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan,
• Made announcements to notify onboard passengers of the outbreak, encourage case reporting, and encourage hand hygiene,
• Collected a stool specimens from ill passengers and crew for submission to the CDC lab,
• Made multiple daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the VSP,
• Provided additional staff and time for thorough public and accommodation super-sanitization cleaning and disinfection during their 50 hours in port,
• Planned and executed staged disembarkation for active cases to limit the opportunity of illness transmission to well guests,
• Executed plans for terminal and transport infection control procedures,
• Consulted with CDC on intensified sanitation procedures during their extended port call in Ft. Lauderdale,

A CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officer and an epidemiologist boarded the ship on arrival in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, on February 9 -10, 2012, to conduct an environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities. Stool specimens were sent to the CDC lab for testing.