CDC, WHO probe norovirus, rare hantavirus aboard cruise ships

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 115 norovirus cases aboard the Caribbean Princess as the ship departed the Port of Los Angeles, while the World Health Organization launched a separate investigation into 13 hantavirus cases — three of them fatal — on a Dutch-based cruise ship, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The simultaneous outbreaks heighten concern for Southern California travelers departing from Port of Los Angeles, with infectious disease specialists saying basic hygiene measures remain the most reliable line of defense despite the alarming numbers.

The Caribbean Princess, bound for Florida, reported its norovirus cluster to the CDC, which tracks illness aboard cruise ships through its Vessel Sanitation Program, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. Norovirus spreads readily through shared surfaces and close contact in the kind of confined, high-density spaces common aboard passenger vessels.

Dr. Suman Radhakrishna, an infectious disease specialist at Dignity Health California Hospital, described the illness's signature presentation. "The symptoms start with violent nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. It's typically short-lived," he said.

On a separate vessel, the WHO is investigating 13 cases of Andes strain hantavirus aboard a Dutch-based cruise ship, with three confirmed deaths, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Health officials note the Andes strain is the only hantavirus variant known to spread person to person — a distinction that makes it especially concerning in close-quarters settings. Radhakrishna underscored the stakes: "When you talk about up to 40 to 50% mortality rate, it means 1 out of 2 people could die from hantavirus," he said.

Travelers can distinguish a potential hantavirus infection from influenza by one key symptom gap, Radhakrishna said. "The one thing for sure that they don't have is that runny nose and the sore throat," he said, adding that anyone experiencing flu-like illness without those symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.

Despite the dual outbreaks, Radhakrishna urged passengers not to cancel plans. "Most common sense measures still work," he said, recommending frequent hand washing, hand sanitizer, masks and disinfectant wipes for shared surfaces. Experienced traveler Ron Hester, interviewed by ABC7 Los Angeles, echoed the cautious-but-ready attitude: "A bunch of us have a mask with us and we'll be putting them on," he said.

Neither the CDC nor the WHO has issued a travel advisory against cruising, and Radhakrishna said the overall risk to the general public remains very low — provided travelers practice the precautions health officials have long recommended.