A major outbreak of norovirus has disrupted a luxury world cruise, leaving more than one hundred passengers and crew members stricken with severe gastrointestinal illness.
Outbreak Details and Response
The outbreak was first reported to health authorities on November 30, affecting the AIDAdiva cruise liner. According to the latest figures, 95 of the 2,007 passengers and six staff members have fallen ill. Those infected are currently isolating in their cabins while cleaning crews work to disinfect the ship in an effort to contain the spread.
The vessel, operated by Carnival Corporation, embarked from Hamburg, Germany, on November 10. Passengers, who pay an average of £242 per night, are less than a month into a 133-day global tour. The itinerary has already included Weymouth in the UK, a transatlantic crossing to North America, and stops in Latin America. The outbreak reportedly began around the time the ship docked at Cozumel, Mexico's largest Caribbean island.
A Common Cruise Ship Hazard
While fewer than 6% of people on board are ill, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the symptoms are intensely unpleasant. They include violent vomiting, diarrhoea, and muscle weakness.
Gastrointestinal outbreaks are a known risk on cruise ships due to the high density of people in confined spaces. Michael Zimring, director of the Center for Wilderness and Travel Medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, explained the challenge. "In close quarters it doesn't get away, everything's concentrated," he told National Geographic, noting how shared surfaces like railings and bathroom doors can promote rapid transmission.
The CDC mandates that all such outbreaks be reported. Data shows this is not an isolated incident: there have been 21 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships this year, with most caused by norovirus. The virus was also responsible for 15 of 18 outbreaks in 2024 and 13 of 14 in 2023.
Journey Continues Amid Outbreak
Despite the outbreak, the AIDAdiva's epic voyage continues. The ship is scheduled for upcoming stops in Guatemala and Costa Rica before crossing the Pacific to visit Japan and Korea. The journey will later include Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Portugal, with a planned return to Hamburg on March 23.
The CDC has noted that while cruise ship outbreak numbers are higher than pre-pandemic levels, it is unclear if this is a new trend. The agency stated that a newly dominant strain of norovirus is currently associated with outbreaks on land, and ships often follow the pattern of land-based infection rates.
