CDC Probes Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreak on Cunard’s Queen Victoria Cruise Ship

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently investigating a significant outbreak of gastrointestinal illness aboard Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria, a luxury cruise ship on a 107-night global voyage. Reports of illness began on January 22, while the ship was in Fort Lauderdale, and have persisted as the vessel continued its journey, most recently docking in San Francisco before heading towards Hawaii.

Affecting both passengers and crew, the outbreak has seen 129 passengers and 25 crew members experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. This represents approximately 5.5 percent of the onboard population, which totals 1,824 passengers and 967 crew members.

In response to the outbreak, Cunard has intensified its cleaning and disinfection efforts aboard the Queen Victoria, adhering to its outbreak prevention and response plan. Measures include the isolation of affected individuals and comprehensive communication to all current and upcoming passengers and crew about the ongoing situation.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program mandates that cruise ships visiting U.S. ports must record and report any instances of gastrointestinal symptoms. This outbreak marks one of the few instances of such illnesses onboard cruise ships in 2024, following an earlier norovirus outbreak on Celebrity Constellation in January. Gastrointestinal illnesses, including norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli, were responsible for 14 reported outbreaks in the previous year.

As the CDC continues its investigation into the cause and scope of the Queen Victoria’s illness outbreak, the cruise line’s proactive measures aim to ensure the health and safety of all passengers and crew as they proceed with their extensive itinerary.