106 People Contract Norovirus On Cruise Ship

Los Angeles - Four crew members and 102 passengers have contracted the norovirus on a cruise ship that sails out of San Diego, according to reports Sunday.

The Holland America MS Oosterdam was about to embark on the second half of a 14-day cruise through the Panama Canal.

MSNBC reports that 106 of the More than 1,800 guests demonstrated symptoms of the virus.

“Guests who demonstrated symptoms were asked to remain in their cabins until symptoms disappeared,” Holland American Spokesperson Erik Elvejord said.

According to the CDC, Noroviruses (genus Norovirus, family Caliciviridae) are a group of related, single-stranded RNA, nonenveloped viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in humans. Norovirus was recently approved as the official genus name for the group of viruses provisionally described as “Norwalk-like viruses” (NLV).

Initial reports suggested that one woman died, but a spokesperson for Holland America denied the claim.

The MS Oosterdam was sterilized by crew members before it returned to San Diego Saturday morning.