Virus Hits Cruise Ship for a 4th Time

Eight passengers have become ill aboard a cruise ship where a virus sickened more than 400 people on three recent voyages, cruise officials said Wednesday.

Workers sanitized Holland America’s Amsterdam before it left Fort Lauderdale on Monday carrying 1,316 passengers on a 10-day Caribbean cruise, the company said. By Wednesday, eight people were sick with the same Norwalk-type virus symptoms, Holland America representative Erik Elvejord said.

“Since the ship’s at sea we’re asking them to stay in the cabins and we’re bringing them food,” Elvejord said.

While not considered serious, the virus strikes people with up to two days of diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain.

The virus struck a total of 425 passengers and crew members on the ship’s last three voyages, company officials said.