A major health scare has erupted aboard the cruise ship Ruby Princess, which was previously linked to one of Australia’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks.
More than 100 passengers and crew members have fallen ill during a recent voyage, with authorities confirming the illness as a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus, likely norovirus. The outbreak was reported to health officials while the ship was still at sea, triggering immediate monitoring by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The vessel, operated by Princess Cruises, had been sailing a 20-day journey before returning to port, where strict sanitation and deep-cleaning procedures were launched to prevent further spread.
Health officials say infected individuals were isolated onboard as cleaning teams worked to disinfect all areas of the ship. The outbreak adds to growing concerns over repeated gastrointestinal infections on cruise vessels worldwide.
The Ruby Princess, already infamous for its role in the early COVID-19 pandemic, is once again under scrutiny as investigators examine how the latest outbreak spread so quickly in a confined environment.
