Gastro outbreak on cruise ship in Sydney

The Diamond Princess as it arrives in Sydney Harbour to kick off Australia's cruise season.
Photo by DAMIAN SHAW.com

More than 150 passengers have been struck down with a gastro bug on board Diamond Princess as the cruise ship returned to Sydney from a 12-day cruise to New Zealand.

The Diamond Princess cruise ship arrived at Circular Quay on Thursday morning with 158 of the 2800 passengers suffering from gastroenteritis.

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District says the passengers and a small number of crew had come down with a bug and were attended to by the ship’s doctor.

Princess Cruises confirmed that a “small proportion” of the passengers on board had reported gastro intestinal symptoms which have since been confirmed as the result of stomach bug Norovirus.

“On the final full day of the cruise around 35 passengers were symptomatic. Increased sanitation levels on the ship were effective in containing the illness,” a spokesperson said.

“As a further step the ship and terminal are today the subject of enhanced cleaning measures. Passengers joining the ship today have been advised of a short delay in embarkation arrangements.”

 

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