A norovirus outbreak has affected nearly one-twelfth of passengers aboard Holland America's ms Rotterdam. According to NBC Miami, the ship docked in Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades on Friday last week after 152 passengers and 17 crew members were reported ill with symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. The Rotterdam had 2,614 passengers and 969 crew members on board during its 12-day voyage, which included stops in the Caribbean, Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica.
As the ship returned to shore, the CDC began investigating the outbreak. To address the issue, the ship's crew increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, and specimens were collected from both ill crew members and passengers for testing, according to Medical Xpress. The first case was reported on Friday last week.
The outbreak is part of a broader trend, as the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program lists ms Rotterdam as the seventh outbreak this year and the fourth caused by norovirus. Medical Xpress notes that there were 18 outbreaks in 2024, the majority of which were also due to norovirus.
Holland America Line has taken precautions by isolating ill passengers and crew and consulting with the CDC.The Rotterdam is scheduled for another voyage as the outbreak subsides. While cruise lines are required to report outbreaks to the CDC, norovirus can also occur on land, as noted by Medical Xpress.
