Investigation Update on the Veendam

Cruise Line: Holland America Line

Cruise Ship: Veendam

Voyage Dates: April 13 to May 4, 2013

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 60 of 1,237 (4.85%)

Number of crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 10 of 574 (1.74%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea

Causative agent: Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Holland America Line and the crew aboard the ship took the following actions:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan,
• Making announcements to both notify onboard passengers of the outbreak and encourage case reporting,
• Collecting stool specimens from ill passengers and crew for testing,
• Making twice daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the VSP,
• Consulting with CDC on plans for:
  • Passenger notification procedures and the planned delayed embarkation schedule in Boston on 4 May,
  • 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 Ft. Lauderdale, FL on May 1, 2013 to conduct a targeted environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities. Specimens will be sent to the CDC lab for testing.