Recent reports have revealed that nearly 500 passengers and crewmembers on board 2 different Princess Cruise ships have fallen ill with Norovirus. The two vessels in question are the Ruby Princess and the Crown Princess. Both vessels leave out of Fort Lauderdale and sail to the Caribbean and back.
The first bout of Norovirus occurred upon the Crown Princess where 364 passengers and 30 crewmembers contracted the Norovirus. The second bout occurred a day later on the Ruby Princess where 92 passengers and 13 crewmembers have fallen sick. The Center for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) have been notified and are monitoring the situation closely.
According to the CDC symptoms of the Norovirus include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, and other flu like symptoms. Furthermore, Norovirus can be spread from person to person by contaminated food, contaminated water, or by simply touching a contaminated surface. CDC advises everyone to wash his or her hands thoroughly and often to help prevent further spreading of the disease.
Illness on board a cruise ship is not uncommon. Also, since the ship is an enclosed environment, the rapid spread of a disease commonly occurs. However, if the Cruise Line was negligent in either causing or preventing the spread of a disease on board a ship, they could be liable. Therefore, if you or a loved one have gotten sick on board a Cruise Ship, contact a Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer to discuss your case and determine if you have an avenue for recovery.
