Norovirus Outbreak In UK To US Cruise Ship Ruins Holiday; CDC Steps In

Around one-third of the passengers aboard The Balmoral cruise ship have reportedly contracted a stomach bug since they left the U.K. in April 16. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, 277 of the 915 vacationers, along with nine of 520 crew, have been suffering from norovirus symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Holiday Cut Short By The Norovirus

The "Old England to New England" cruise is supposed to run for five weeks to the US and will return to Southhampton by May 20. Two CDC environmental health officers and an epidemiologist boarded the ship when it arrived in Baltimore on April 30 to May 1 to evaluate the situation and direct response activities to treat the norovirus outbreak.

All samples tested positive for norovirus, also called the winter vomiting bug. The agency has sent the specimen to its headquarters for further testing.

So far, The Balmoral has docked in Azores, Bermuda and New York and Boston cities. As of this writing, it is headed for Saint John in New Brunswick. The cruise is operated by Fred Olsen Cruises.

In an interview with the BBC, a man who refused to be named said that both his senior citizen parents have been confined to their cabins for two days because of the norovirus, same with many others. The holiday-goers have already missed out of key highlights of the cruise because of the stomach bug.

Symptoms Of Norovirus

Symptoms for the norovirus -- also known as the winter vomiting bug -- normally manifest for one or two days following norovirus infection. This could last for up to three days. It is spread via surface or human contact.

The CDC has recommended increased cleaning and disinfection procedures to the management and staff. Fred Olsen said it it cooperating fully to keep the problem from spreading further.

This is not the first time The Balmoral has been hit by norovirus outbreaks. The BBC maps that it happened to about 100 people on a cruise to Scotland in 2009 and at least 310 people upon docking in Los Angeles in 2010. Norovirus is a common, but avoidable, occurrence in areas that are confined for long periods.