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File photo of the National Geographic Sea Lion, the sister ship to the National Geographic Sea Bird (Photo by Sylvain CORDIER/Gamma-Rapho
An Alaska cruise ship has reported its third gastrointestinal outbreak on board in less than three months.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the cruise ship is operated by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions.
Alaska cruise ship illnesses
The CDC says 18 of 62 passengers aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird ship were sick with abdominal cramps and vomiting. The latest outbreak occurred on the ship’s July 10-July 15 voyage.
It’s the third such outbreak on the ship this summer. The first two happened on the May 31-June 5 and the June 5-June 10 cruises.
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The first two outbreaks were caused by norovirus, according to the CDC.
What we don’t know:
The CDC hasn’t yet identified the cause of the third outbreak, though symptoms have been the same for all three.
What they’re saying:
The cruise ship told the CDC that crews have “increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan.”
National Geographic Sea Bird
The backstory:
The National Geographic Sea Bird is operated by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions and cruises off the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia in the summer. The ship has 31 rooms with the capacity for 62 passengers, according to its website.
Theisease Control and Prevention and the National Geographic Sea Bird website
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