Investigation Update on the Oceania Riviera

Cruise Line: Oceania Cruises

Cruise Ship: Oceania Riviera

Voyage Dates: November 18 – December 2, 2015

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 74 of 1,160 (6.38%)

Number of crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 12 of 776 (1.55%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea

Causative agent: Norovirus

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Oceania Cruises and the crew aboard the ship reported the following actions:

• Increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan,
• Collected stool specimens from passenger and crew gastrointestinal illness cases for testing,
• Making twice daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the VSP,
• Is consulting with CDC on plans for their comprehensive sanitation procedures in Miami, FL on December 2, 2015, including:
  • planning staged disembarkation for active cases to limit the opportunity of illness transmission to well guests, and
  • planning for sanitation of terminal and transport infection control procedures.

Three CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officers will board the ship in Miami, FL on December 2, 2015 to conduct an environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities. Specimens have been collected and tested onboard using a norovirus rapid test; results were positive for norovirus. The specimens will be sent to CDC for additional testing.