90-Second Read: Stomach Bugs, Not Hantavirus, Are A Bigger Threat On Cruises

Cruise ship Ambition, operated by the Ambassador Cruise Line, is docked at the Port of Bordeaux after local authorities said passengers could not disembark following an outbreak of possible gastroenteritis reported on board, in Bordeaux, France, May 13, 2026. While cruises are in a global spotlight after a rare Hantavirus outbreak killed three people on an ocean liner since April, mild gastrointestinal illnesses are far more common on ships. Passengers and crew from the MV Hondius are returning home throughout the world after the deadly outbreak of the Andes strain of Hantavirus spread on the ship last month. By Annika Inampudi and Ignacio Gonzalez May 17, 2026 (Bloomberg) -Stomach bugs on cruise ships recently hit a nearly two-decade high as more people than ever board the vessels, underscoring how...

January through mid-May 2025 saw the number of stomach flu outbreaks reach 17 on cruise ships, but that number has fallen to four in that same period this year, the spokesperson said. The last six passengers and some of the crew of the Hantavirus-hit MV Hondius anchored off Tenerife were readying to disembark on Monday as the ship's captain praised their patience and discipline during an "extremely challenging" few weeks. TENERIFE/MADRID, May 9 (Reuters), Countries prepared to evacuate their citizens from the luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly strain of Hantavirus that is due to anchor near Tenerife early on Sunday... Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.

They have risen for the last four years to the highest since 2007, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vessel Sanitation Program. Most cruises halted voyages during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, but since then the industry has been booming. Health concerns in the past haven't dented demand, and this year advance bookings at Carnival Corp. Dense socializing spaces, as well as shared food and water systems, can accelerate the spread of diseases, while limited medical equipment and staffing make curbing infections harder, he said.

They subsequently declined but the number of such outbreaks has risen since the pandemic period and last year reached 23, the highest number since 2007, according to CDC data. A new strain was associated with outbreaks on land last year, according to a CDC spokesperson. The incident brought back memories of the cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Japan in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.