CDC Investigates Third Gastrointestinal Outbreak on National Geographic Cruise Ship
The CDC is investigating another gastrointestinal illness outbreak aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird, a small expedition cruise ship that sails Alaska's scenic Inside Passage.
According to the agency's Vessel Sanitation Program, 18 of the ship's 62 passengers got sick during a voyage that departed Sitka, Alaska, on July 10th and ended in Juneau on July 15th.
None of the 26 crew members reported any symptoms. The most common complaints were vomiting and abdominal cramps.
The Cause Hasn’t Been Confirmed Yet
At this point, the CDC says the cause of the outbreak is still unknown.
Passengers who got sick have been asked to provide stool or vomit samples for laboratory testing while the agency continues to monitor the situation remotely.
Crew members also increased their cleaning and disinfection efforts, and isolated sick passengers in accordance with the ship's outbreak response plan.
Although the cause hasn’t been confirmed yet, the first two outbreaks reported on the National Geographic Sea Bird earlier this year were linked to norovirus, a highly contagious virus that commonly causes vomiting and diarrhea.
This Is the Third Reported Outbreak This Season
The latest incident marks the third reported gastrointestinal outbreak aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird since late May.
Previously, the CDC reported outbreaks during voyages in late May and late June.
Those investigations identified norovirus as the cause, making this ship the only one reported by the CDC to have multiple gastrointestinal outbreaks in 2026.
Why Norovirus Spreads So Easily
Even though people often associate norovirus with cruise ships, the virus can spread anywhere people gather in close quarters, including:
Schools
Nursing homes
Restaurants
Hotels
According to the CDC, norovirus spreads through contaminated food or water, touching contaminated surfaces, or having close contact with someone who’s infected.
Frequent handwashing with soap and water and staying isolated if you’re sick are the best ways to help prevent it from spreading.
Should You Be Concerned?
Gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships tend to receive widespread attention, but they're still relatively uncommon, compared to the millions of people who cruise each year.
Cruise lines are required to report outbreaks that meet the CDC's public notification threshold, and, when that happens, ships typically increase their sanitation measures, isolate sick passengers, and work closely with public health officials to limit the spread.
In this case, the CDC will continue to monitor the investigation while lab testing is underway.
Travel With Confidence
If you're planning an Alaskan cruise, there's no need to cancel your trip. These types of outbreaks are still relatively uncommon, and, when they happen, cruise lines work closely with public officials to contain them.
The best thing you can do is wash your hands often with soap and water, report any symptoms the moment you feel sick, and follow the cruise ship’s guidelines.
A few simple precautions can go a long way toward helping you enjoy a healthy voyage.
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