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Viking Expedition Operations' cruise ship, Viking Polaris, has reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak during its April 2025 voyage. Over 30 individuals, including passengers and crew, have fallen ill, with symptoms predominantly including vomiting and diarrhea. The outbreak occurred during the ship's voyage. The Easter sailing departed Toronto on Saturday, April 12, 2025, and is scheduled to arrive in the Big Apple on Wednesday, April 23. Out of the 355 passengers on board, 28 reported being ill, accounting for 7.9% of the total passenger count. Additionally, 4 out of the 260 crew members also reported being ill, making up 1.5% of the crew. The causative agent of the illness is currently unknown.The problem was discovered when passengers and crew started reporting their symptoms to the medical center onboard. In response to the outbreak, Viking Expedition Operations increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan. They also collected stool specimens from those affected for testing, isolated ill passengers and crew, and consulted with the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) about sanitation cleaning procedures and reporting ill cases. The VSP is currently remotely monitoring the situation, including reviewing the ship's outbreak response and sanitation procedures.
While the causative agent of the outbreak is still unknown, samples are pending confirmatory testing. Gastrointestinal illness is a common issue on cruise ships, and it is crucial for passengers and crew to report any symptoms promptly to limit the spread of the illness.
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