Oceania insignia norovirus outbreak Cruise ships are seeing a record year for outbreaks
This is a record year for outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 20 outbreaks on these ships so far, most of which were caused by norovirus. Last year, which was also a record year for gastrointestinal illness outbreaks, there were 18 outbreaks.
According to the CDC, the latest outbreak occurred on Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Insignia during an 11-day (October 16-27) Montreal to Boston cruise. The outbreak affected 75 people: 74 of 637 passengers (11.6%) and 1 of 391 crew members (0.3%). Those affected experienced symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.
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The highly contagious norovirus often resembles the stomach flu, and cases most often occur between November and April. Infections on cruise ships can be seen because people are in close proximity to each other and share dining and drinking spaces for long periods of time, but according to the CDC, these cases account for only 1% of all norovirus cases reported in the United States.
The rising number of infections on cruise ships may be a sign of how popular cruising is becoming. Earlier this month, AAA projected that 20.7 million Americans will use cruises in 2025 and 21.7 million in 2026, representing an increase of 8.4% from 2024 to 2025 and 4.5% from 2025 to 2026.
oceania insignia norovirus outbreak
oceania insignia norovirus