Between February 26 and March 5, no less than 284 passengers aboard Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess confronted an undesirable stowaway within the type of a norovirus. Such viruses usually final simply 48 hours, however for victims confronted with extreme diarrhea and vomiting, that is two days too many.

In an “Investigation Replace on the Ruby Princess” dated March 7, the Facilities for Illness Management (CDC) reported that 34 out of 1,159 crew members had been additionally stricken with the virus. The CDC stated epidemiologists and environmental well being officers with the company’s “Vessel Sanitation Program” boarded the Ruby Princess when it docked in Galveston, Texas, on March 5. Nonetheless, they may not decide the supply of the an infection.

The CDC stated that when alerted to the outbreak, the crew reportedly carried out disinfection protocols and cleaned extra usually—within the course of, additionally they collected stool samples for the CDC to research. A Princess Cruises spokesperson instructed CBS crew members instructed sick passengers to isolate themselves of their cabins.

Narrowing down the probably explanation for the sickness to the norovirus wasn’t a stretch. In spite of everything, cruise ships are densely full of folks, hundreds of passengers and crew members residing in comparatively shut quarters. For a virus that may unfold quickly through meals, water, or surfaces, it is a great breeding floor. There’s additionally the unpredictability issue: a number of passengers could have already got the virus once they board and never realize it—norovirus can incubate as much as 48 hours earlier than an contaminated particular person turns into symptomatic.

Princess Cruises instructed CBS Information that the Ruby Princess had already left for a brand new seven-day voyage to the Caribbean and that the passengers had been knowledgeable of the outbreak.