CDC investigates new cruise ship outbreak after dozens report gastrointestinal illness

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The U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a gastrointestinal illness outbreak aboard aluxury cruise ship.

The outbreak occurred during a voyage from Jan.11 through Feb.1 on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship.

Itsickened 27 people, including 21 passengers and six crew members, CDC data shows.

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The cruise line notified the CDC of the illnesses during the sailing — and the agency listed the cause of the outbreak as unknown.

The outbreak was reported on the cruise line’s Seven Seas Mariner.

Passengers walking toward a luxury cruise ship during embarkation at port.

The CDC reported an unknown gastrointestinal illness outbreak that sickened 27 people aboard a Regent Seven Seas cruise ship.(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The vessel departed from Miami and was sailing to Honolulu.

It had scheduled port calls in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico andother destinations, according to CruiseMapper.

Luxury Regent cruise ship sailing along a rocky coastline under clear blue skies.

The ship was carrying 631 passengers when the outbreak occurred.(Gerard Bottino/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images)

Those measures included increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures and isolating passengers and crew members who reported symptoms.The cruise line also followed the agency’soutbreak responseand sanitation protocols, the CDC said.

The CDC asked passengers who reported symptoms to provide stool samples, so health officials could test for a possible cause of the outbreak.

the virusis not always immediately confirmed.

Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship docked at port with passengers walking along the waterfront

Laboratory testing is still underway to determine the cause of the illness.(oe Raedle/Getty Images)

The CDC advisesfrequent handwashingas a key step in reducing the risk of gastrointestinal illness.

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That outbreak occurred on a Holland America Line cruise and left nearly 90 passengers and crew members ill during a voyage that ran from Dec.28 through Jan.9.

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