Ship docs at Brisbane due to mass gastro outbreak

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Around 200 people on a cruise ship holiday in the Sea Princess were hit with gastro for two days during their fortnight-week long cruise ship holiday.

The ship was docked in Brisbane this morning after leaving before Christmas from the same port after completing its round-trip to Brisbane with a stop at New Zealand for Christmas.

Due to comprehensive cleaning on-board passengers heading out on the Sea Princess have had their departure delayed until 6pm today

Queensland Health officials confirmed that on-board testing revealed traces of norovirus, an unpleasant virus that can bring on nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramping as well as low-grade fever. Other symptoms included chills, a headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness.

A spokesman said that around 200 people were believed to have been infected with the virus. Following the outbreak appropriate sanitation procedures and outbreak control measures have been implemented.

The  vessel is expected to undergo further comprehensive cleaning while in Brisbane.

In the last 12 months the Sea Princess is the fourth Australian cruise ship to be hit with gastro.

Earlier last year, its sister ship the Sun Princess docked in Brisbane with 91 people suffering from norovirus.

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