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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4674973.htmhttp://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4674973.htm
Posted on Thu, Dec. 05, 2002
New cases of sick passengers reported aboard Fascination
By The Associated Press
MIAMI - Two dozen people aboard a thoroughly scrubbed cruise ship sailing in the Caribbean have reported stomach flu symptoms consistent with a virus that has sickened hundreds of cruisegoers in recent weeks, officials said Thursday.
The cases aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' Fascination, which is to return Friday after a five-day cruise with stops in Key West and Cozumel, Mexico, were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said Jennifer de la Cruz, a Carnival spokeswoman.
More than 200 people aboard the Fascination's previous sailing complained of gastrointestinal symptoms. The cruise line worked to thoroughly disinfect the ship before it left port Monday, and continued their scrubbing at sea.
De la Cruz said Thursday's tally of ill cruisegoers and crew members is ``a little bit above your typical numbers.''
The cruise line was collecting samples from the sick for testing by the CDC, which will determine if anyone contracted the Norwalk-like virus.
More than 1,000 passengers aboard ships from Holland America Line's Amsterdam, Carnival Cruise Lines' Fascination and Disney Cruise Line's Magic have become sick in recent weeks, despite heightened disinfection and cleaning efforts.
The latest ship to confront a rash of stomach flu-like symptoms is the Oceana, which is operated by P&O Cruises of Great Britain and is currently carrying 1,859 passengers on a 15-night Caribbean trip.
According to the CDC, at least 114 passengers and three crew members have been treated for some sort of virus during the ship's current voyage, only its third.
The Oceana made its inaugural voyage from Port Everglades on Nov. 1.
Most of the sick passengers traveled to Fort Lauderdale on the same charter flight from Manchester, England, a CDC spokesman said. Federal health officials are expected to board the ship on its return to open an investigation.
Holland America's Amsterdam, which left Port Canaveral on Sunday with more than 1,200 passengers aboard, was held at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale for 10 days to be thoroughly decontaminated after about 500 people fell ill on its last four trips.
CDC officials said Wednesday that three people had become sick on the Amsterdam's current voyage. A Holland America spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.
The Norwalk virus causes severe diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting for 24 to 48 hours, according to the CDC.
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On the Net:
Carnival Cruise Lines: http://www.carnival.com
Holland America: http://www.hollandamerica.com
Disney Cruise Line: http://www.disneycruise.com
CDC Vessel Sanitation: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/
P&O Cruises: http://www.pocruises.com/
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