Dozens Fell Sick on Holland America Cruise Ship

 

The passengers on the MS Maasdam began experiencing gastrointestinal illness while on a 14-day sailing. The affected guests were asked to remain in their cabins until their symptoms disappeared. 

 

Sixty of 1,138 passengers on the MS Maasdam and 11 of 578 crew members experienced vomiting and diarrhea during the cruise, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

 

CDC officials were expected to board the vessel in Fort Lauderdale to assess the outbreak and evaluate the crew's response. They also will collect and test specimens to determine whether the outbreak is due to norovirus.

 

The ship was sailing on a 14-night Caribbean itinerary that began April 17 and ended Friday.

 

The ship docked in Port Everglades Friday morning, where people continued to be treated. Officials said the illness was not serious, and no guests had to be taken to the hospital.

 

In a statement, Holland America Line says the ship will undergo a thorough sanitizing. The Seattle-based cruise line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corp. & PLC, said a small number of Maasdam guests had reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness to the ship's infirmary during the cruise.