The National Geographic Sea Bird, a 152-foot expedition vessel operated by Lindblad Expeditions, has experienced its third gastrointestinal illness outbreak in about two months. The outbreak occurred on July 12, halfway through a voyage from Sitka to Juneau, Alaska.
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), 18 of the ship's 62 passengers, or nearly a third of those aboard, reported being ill. The predominant symptoms were "vomiting [and] abdominal cramps." As of Monday, the source of the outbreak is unknown.
The ship's crew isolated the ill passengers and crew, and officials increased "cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan." The VSP is remotely monitoring the situation, including review of the ship's outbreak response and sanitation procedures.
The CDC said the cause of the outbreak remains unknown, though norovirus is a common cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships. Finding the agent that caused an outbreak can take time, and in this case, samples are pending confirmatory testing.
The incident follows a string of cruise-related health incidents that have made headlines in recent months. In April, a hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius drew international attention after it was linked to three passenger deaths. Additionally, more than 100 people fell ill during a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess, according to the CDC.
The National Geographic Sea Bird is a shallow-draft vessel carrying up to 62 guests. Its unique design allows access to narrow inlets and wildlife-rich fjords beyond the reach of larger ships.
