- As many as 190 passengers and 31 crew members have become ill with unknown illness on cruise ship
- Symptoms - which include vomiting and diarrhea - are consistent with norovirus, a highly contagious disease spread through contaminated food and water
- Ticket for similar Caribbean cruise costs upwards of $4,7000
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Hundreds of passengers hoping to enjoy a pampered Christmas cruise on the imposing
Queen Mary 2 are instead below deck with an unknown illness that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Earlier this week, 189 passengers and 31 crew members had come down with symptoms, which are consistent with the norovirus, a highly-contagious virus that is easily passed from person to person through contaminated food or water.
The luxe liner departed New York on Saturday for a 12-night cruise in the Caribbean. A ticket on the prestigious liner can cost upwards of $4,700.
Norovirus causes an inflammation of the stomach or intestines called acute gastroenteritis, producing stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Each year, norovirus causes some 21million illnesses, of which 70,000 require hospitalization. It kills about 800 people a year, the CDC says.
The
Queen Mary 2, with 2,613 passengers and 1,255 crew members, is now docked in Saint Maarten in the Caribbean, according to ship owner Cunard Line, which is owned by Carnival Corp.
The CDC learned of the illnesses on the
QM2 on Christmas Day, and of those on the
Emerald Princess last Saturday. Vessels are required to notify the agency when two percent of those on board develop a gastrointestinal illness.