Cruise ship docks in Brisbane after gastro outbreak
A cruise ship has docked in Brisbane after a gastro outbreak affected about 200 passengers.
The outbreak caused delays for new passengers to board the Sea Princess on Thursday morning as comprehensive cleaning took place onboard, according to a Queensland Health spokesperson.
Queensland Health confirmed testing had found the norovirus had been the cause of the illness.
The Sea Princess arriving in Brisbane after the outbreak. Photo: AAP
The vessel is undergoing further sanitation while in Brisbane. Source: Simon Love/ 7News
"Around 200 people were believed to have been infected with the virus," a spokesperson said.
"Appropriate sanitation procedures and outbreak control measures have been implemented and the vessel is expected to undergo further comprehensive cleaning while in Brisbane."
Another Carnival Australia ship struck with Norovirus. QLD Health says 200 of the 2130 passengers on Sea Princess Xmas/NYE voyage to New Zealand fell ill. Ship undergoing “precautionary sanitation” before another cruise sets sail tonight. @7NewsBrisbane @Y7News pic.twitter.com/OyHI1Kil26
— Simon Love (@SimoLove) January 4, 2018
It comes less than six months after a similar outbreak aboard the Sea Princess' sister ship, the Sun Princess, which docked in Brisbane in August after at least 91 people contracted Norovirus.
Testing found norovirus had been the cause of the illness. Source: Simon Love/ 7News
Despite the recent cases, Princess Cruises defended the safety of their ships.
"There is a 750 times greater chance of experiencing norovirus on shore than while travelling on a cruise ship," a Princess Cruises spokesman said.
Symptoms of norovirus can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramping as well as low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness.
The Sea Princess had spent 14 days at sea after departing from New Zealand.
