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Health officials said those infected experienced intense vomiting and diarrhea while aboard the luxury cruise liner during its 13-day Caribbean journey.
The outbreak was formally reported to the CDC on May 7, 2026, sparking concern among travelers and public health officials as cruise lines continue battling recurring illness incidents at sea.
The Caribbean Princess departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 28 and is scheduled to return on May 11 after completing its extended Caribbean itinerary.
This latest incident marks the fourth gastrointestinal outbreak recorded on cruise ships in 2026, according to CDC tracking data. It also marks the second outbreak this year involving a vessel operated by Princess Cruises, raising new questions about sanitation and containment measures aboard major cruise liners.
Princess Cruises reportedly launched aggressive emergency protocols in response to the outbreak. The company intensified cleaning and disinfecting procedures throughout the ship while isolating passengers and crew members who became sick.
Officials also began collecting stool samples for laboratory testing and consulted directly with federal health authorities in an effort to stop the virus from spreading further throughout the vessel.
The cruise line additionally announced that the Caribbean Princess will undergo a full deep-cleaning process once it arrives back at Port Canaveral.
While the norovirus outbreak is alarming enough on its own, it comes amid growing international concern over a completely different viral threat that recently turned deadly aboard another cruise ship overseas.
Unlike norovirus, hantavirus is spread primarily through rodents, including rats and mice, according to the World Health Organization.
The Gateway Pundit previously reported that three people died and multiple others became seriously ill following a hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship traveling in the Atlantic Ocean.
South African media outlets reported that the expedition vessel departed from Argentina before heading toward Cape Verde.
The World Health Organization warned of the dangers associated with the virus, stating:
“Hantavirus infections are typically linked to environmental exposure (exposure to infected rodents’ urine or feces). While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness and requires careful patient monitoring, support and response,” The WHO said.
International authorities are now scrambling to prevent additional cases linked to the deadly outbreak aboard the Dutch-operated cruise vessel.
According to Yahoo News, the United States is among several nations now monitoring travelers connected to the ship as health officials attempt to contain potential international spread.
The MV Hondius is reportedly heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands and is expected to anchor offshore near Tenerife. Spanish authorities said passengers would be transported using smaller boats before being moved in sealed buses to airports for evacuation flights back to their home countries.
The situation has become serious enough that World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is reportedly traveling to Tenerife to oversee coordination efforts alongside Spanish government officials.
The WHO has now confirmed six hantavirus infections connected to the voyage, with four individuals hospitalized. Three victims have already died, including a Dutch couple and a German citizen.
Meanwhile, U.S. health officials in Arizona, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia are reportedly monitoring residents for possible exposure linked to the cruise ship outbreak.
New Jersey officials announced Friday that two individuals were being monitored after possible exposure during international air travel connected to the incident. At this time, no confirmed U.S. hantavirus cases have been reported.
The back-to-back cruise ship health scares are likely to intensify scrutiny over sanitation practices and emergency preparedness aboard international cruise liners as travelers prepare for the busy summer vacation season.
