Cruise Ship Hit by 2nd Outbreak This Year

A 28-day Pacific cruise turned out to be a less magical experience than expected for at least 172 people on board the Crown Princess. CDC officials met the cruise ship when it docked in Los Angeles yesterday after its second norovirus outbreak of the year, reports Reuters. In April, more than 100 passengers on the same ship were hit by the highly contagious bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhea. At least 158 of around 3,000 passengers and 14 of more than 1,000 crew members fell ill during the ship's latest cruise, which included stops in Hawaii and Tahiti, CNN reports.

The CDC sent officials to examine the outbreak and the ship's response, as well as to assist with what Princess Cruises says will be "stringent disinfecting protocols." The cruise line says that after passengers began to fall ill, there was an all-out effort to sanitize the ship to stop the outbreak from spreading. Passengers were to be notified of the outbreak before they boarded the ship's next cruise, which may be already under way: The Crown Princess was set to sail for the Mexican Riviera last night, according to ABC7. (More norovirus stories.)