9News in Australia reports that the Golden Princess cruise ship docked in Melbourne this morning “after hundreds of passengers were struck down with gastro.”
The newspaper reports that “more than 300 passengers” on-board the cruise ship are believed to have been affected with a gastrointestinal illness.
Princess Cruises spokesman praised the ship’s crew and medical personnel who handled what the newspapers said is believed to be norovirus.
In the last two month, Princess Cruises has experienced a number of gastrointestinal outbreaks, on the Ocean Princess, Diamond Princess, and the Crown Princess.
Princess Cruises has experienced the most gastrointestinal outbreaks in the last decade – over 20.
Norovirus is primarily a food-borne virus which often spreads through contaminated food or water. It can be spread by food handlers, people who touch contaminated surfaces and from person to person transmission.
Photo credit: Jean-Philippe Boulet, CC BY 3.0.