Passengers and crew aboard Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas affected by a gastrointestinal outbreak exceeded 90 individuals after departing from Tampa on February 1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) validated the outbreak after 89 travelers alongside 2 crew members displayed signs of vomiting and diarrhea.
The ship hosting passengers and crew members totaling 2,164 and 910 docked at Cozumel then Roatan Islands and Belize City along with Costa Maya before its Saturday return. The Vessel Sanitation Program at the CDC received notification about the outbreak during Tuesday when the ship was at the midpoint of its voyage. Medical experts have not identified the specific cause yet but norovirus frequently leads to such outbreaks.
The sick have been kept apart while healthcare workers gather specimens from their stools for laboratory analysis. Royal Caribbean remains silent regarding any impacts that the outbreak caused to the ship’s scheduled course of ports.
The crew members have taken additional steps for extensive cleaning followed by disinfection throughout the ship. The CDC oversees the situation remotely by evaluating protocols related to response and sanitation of the ship.
The ports of call were affected by illness management difficulties on board ships because the crowded conditions help diseases spread quickly. The public must maintain thorough hygiene practices following a request from both passengers and crew members while authorities investigate.
