70 passengers down with stomach flu on month-long cruise from S'pore to Los Angeles

A total of 70 people on a 31-day cruise from Singapore to Los Angeles, California were afflicted with a gastrointestinal illness, known as norovirus.

Daily Mail reported that the Coral Princess departed Singapore on Oct. 17 and made eight stops in Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan, before the outbreak was reported to CDC on Nov. 9.

The ship stopped at Hawaii on Nov. 10, then docked at Los Angeles on Nov. 17 to drop off the affected passengers and crew.

Norovirus, often referred to as "stomach flu" and "vomiting bug", is a highly contagious virus that affects the stomach and intestines, causing diarrhoea and vomiting.

Symptoms include fever, headaches, and body aches, with hospitalisation needed in severe cases.

During the voyage, 55 passengers and 15 crew members aboard the Coral Princess reported ill with diarrhoea and vomiting being the primary symptoms.  

The Coral Princess, a 294m cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises, carried a total of 2,729 people on board.

Sick passengers dropped off at Los Angeles

According to the CDC, Princess Cruises ramped up cleaning and disinfection procedures once it became clear there had been an outbreak.

Travellers who were ill were also asked to provide stool samples for testing.

The ship continued its 16-day journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the afternoon of Nov. 17, surprisingly without any delays, according to the ship tracking site VesselFinder.

How the virus spread

The norovirus can spread through contaminated food and affect people of all ages, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on its website.

According to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), the virus spreads quickly and easily, surviving on surfaces such as tabletops, sinks, and cutlery for up to two weeks after contamination.

The SFA also noted that the virus can be transmitted through contact with an infected person, such as by sharing utensils.

People who consume foods like shellfish should exercise caution, as such food items are more likely to contain higher concentrations of norovirus, particularly if raw or undercooked.

According to the SFA in their website, individuals infected with norovirus typically develop symptoms within 12 to 48 hours of exposure, with symptoms usually lasting one to three days.

Why are gastrointestinal illnesses more common on cruise ships?

According to the CDC, there have been 11 recorded gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships in 2024, with norovirus responsible for seven of them.

A 2007 article published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine noted that outbreaks of viruses such as norovirus, E. coli and salmonella are more likely to occur on cruise ships because of the high number of people sharing enclosed spaces and communal eating areas for an extended period of time.

“Traveling on cruise ships exposes people to new environments and high volumes of people, including other travellers,” the CDC states on its website.

“This exposure can create the risk for illness from contaminated food or water or, more commonly, through person-to-person contact.”

Top image by Coral Princess website