Report by
Cunard Road, SO14 3QN England, United Kingdom
In December 2024, a gastrointestinal illness outbreak occurred on Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 cruise ship, affecting 100 passengers and 7 crew members. The predominant symptoms were diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, but the causative agent remains unknown. The outbreak occurred during the voyage from December 14 to December 21, 2024, and was reported to the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) on December 19. Of the 2,430 passengers on board, 4.16% reported being ill, while 0.57% of the 1,237 crew members reported symptoms. The cause of the outbreak is still under investigation, with samples pending collection and confirmatory testing. Gastrointestinal illness is a common issue on cruise ships, often caused by norovirus, but the causative agent in this case remains unknown. The reporting of such illnesses is crucial for early detection and limiting the spread of the disease. The outbreak was discovered when passengers and crew reported their symptoms to the onboard medical center. In response, Cunard Line increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, collected stool specimens from those ill for testing, and isolated the affected passengers and crew. The VSP is remotely monitoring the situation and reviewing the ship's outbreak response and sanitation procedures.
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