Cruise hit with third contagious vomiting bug in 2 months
The cruise isolated sick passengers and crew and collected stool specimens for testing.
Mason Reed 
Travelers aboard a recent Alaskan expedition are facing a persistent health challenge, as yet another gastrointestinal illness outbreak has struck the National Geographic Sea Bird. This marks the third time in just two months that passengers and crew on the Lindblad Expeditions vessel have dealt with a contagious vomiting bug.
A Recurring Health Issue
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report released Wednesday, the latest incident impacted 18 out of the 62 passengers on board. Symptoms reported included abdominal cramps and vomiting during the ship's voyage from July 10 to 15. The vessel navigated through scenic Alaskan locations including Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Haines, Tracy Arm Fjord, and Juneau, according to data from CruiseMapper.
This recent cluster of illness follows two previous outbreaks this summer, with the first occurring on May 28 and the second on June 28. Previous outbreaks were confirmed to be norovirus, a highly contagious vomiting bug.
Response and Monitoring
In an effort to curb the spread, the cruise line took immediate action by isolating affected passengers and crew members while collecting stool specimens for laboratory testing. Crew members also ramped up cleaning and disinfection efforts in accordance with the line’s official outbreak prevention and response plan.
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) confirmed it is currently providing remote oversight, monitoring the ship's sanitation protocols and the effectiveness of the ongoing response efforts. 205focus.com continues to track these developments as the VSP keeps watch over the situation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
