Over 100 passengers and crew members fall ill in cruise ship norovirus outbreak

During a voyage on the AIDAdiva operated by German cruise line AIDA Cruises, over 100 individuals experienced illness due to a norovirus outbreak. Out of 2,007 passengers, 95 reported symptoms, alongside six crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea.

The cruise embarked on a 133-day journey from Hamburg, Germany, on November 10, with planned stops in England, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and other destinations.

In response, the cruise line intensified sanitation procedures, increased cleaning efforts, and isolated affected passengers and crew members. The CDC emphasized these measures aimed to limit further spread of the virus.

So far in 2025, the CDC has recorded 21 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships that triggered public notifications, with 16 attributed to norovirus. In 2024, norovirus was responsible for 15 of 18 total outbreaks, and in 2023, it caused 13 of 14 outbreaks. The agency noted that while recent numbers are higher than pre-pandemic years, it remains unclear if this reflects a lasting trend. A newly dominant strain of norovirus, which is also appearing on land, is currently driving the outbreaks.

Although cruise ships often attract attention during such outbreaks, they account for only about 1% of all reported cases. Experts highlight that illnesses in settings with close contactsuch as daycares, nursing homes, and cruise shipsare more likely to be diagnosed and reported.

Author: Riley Thompson