Almost 80 people have fallen sick during a norovirus outbreak on a Holland America Line cruise around east Asia.
Passengers on the Westerdam ship reported gastrointestinal symptoms during the trip from Japan to Hong Kong.
Departing on 15 February from Yokohama, Japan, the journey included stops in Busan, Korea and Shanghai.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes acute gastroenteritis, leading to sudden vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and stomach pain.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in Hong Kong said it began investigating the suspected outbreak on 1 March.
Of approximately 2,800 passengers onboard, 76 people reported symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and a fever during the voyage.
CHP controller Dr Edwin Tsui said: “On February 27, the CHP's Port Health Division received notification from a cruise operator indicating that certain passengers and crew members aboard a vessel en route to Hong Kong were suspected of having contracted norovirus.”
A temporary medical station was set up at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to provide health assessments for passengers on arrival in Hong Kong.
The CHP recommended thorough environmental cleaning and disinfection before passengers and crew were allowed to reboard the cruise ship.
“Given the current high activity levels of norovirus in some tourist destinations, particularly in neighbouring regions like Japan and Korea, where activity has been rising since late last year, I urge cross-border cruise passengers and operators to pay special attention to personal, food and environmental hygiene to safeguard individual health and public health”, Dr Edwin Tsui added.
A spokesperson for Holland America Line told USA Today that cases were “mostly mild and quickly resolving”.
They added: “As a precaution and consistent with our standard protocols, we implemented enhanced sanitation procedures and conducted additional deep cleaning when the ship completed its sailing in Hong Kong.”
The Independent has contacted Holland America Line for comment.
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