Investigation Update on the Voyager of the Seas

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Cruise Ship: Voyager of the Seas

Voyage Dates: January 28 – February 4, 2012

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 248 of 3139 (7.90%)

Number of crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 11 of 1192 (0.92%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea

Causative agent: Norovirus

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and the crew aboard the ship have taken the following actions:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan,
• Made announcements to both notify onboard passengers of the outbreak and encourage case reporting,
• Collected stool specimens from ill passengers and crew for submission to the CDC lab,
• Made twice daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the VSP,
• Consulted with CDC on plans for:
  • Next cruise passenger notification procedures and draft letter, which will be sent to passengers on the following voyage prior to their embarkation day, February 4, 2012, about this outbreak and the planned delayed embarkation schedule, and
  • Disembarkation plans for active cases, terminal and transport infection control procedures.

Two CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officers will board the ship on arrival in New Orleans, LA, on February 4, 2012, to conduct a targeted environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities. Stool specimens will be sent to the CDC lab for testing.