Investigation Update on the Viking Star

Cruise Line: Viking Ocean Cruises

Cruise Ship: Viking Star

Voyage Dates: February 7–14, 2019

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 36 of 904 (3.98%)

Number of crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 1 of 461 (0.22%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea

Causative agent: norovirus

Actions: The CDC Vessel Sanitation Program has been monitoring the situation and the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures. In response to the outbreak, Viking Ocean Cruises and the crew aboard the ship reported the following actions:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan.
• Collected stool specimen from passengers and crew cases and will send specimen to CDC lab for testing.
• Sent multiple daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to VSP.
• Consulted with VSP about sanitation cleaning procedures and reporting ill cases.

The CDC Vessel Sanitation Program is assisting the cruise line to investigate the causative agent and prevent further spread of illness.

Note: The gastrointestinal illness cases reported are totals for the entire voyage and do not represent the number of active (symptomatic) gastrointestinal cases at any given port of call or at disembarkation.

Learn how passengers can protect themselves with these tips for healthy cruising.