At a glance
Learn about the gastrointestinal illness outbreak on Sea Cloud Cruises ship Sea Cloud Spirit in January 2025, including outbreak details and actions taken in response.
Outbreak details
Cruise line: Sea Cloud Cruises
Cruise ship: Sea Cloud Spirit
Voyage dates: January 4–January 10, 2025
Voyage number: SCS 2501
Date outbreak reported to VSP: January 9, 2025
Number of passengers who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 0 of 120 (0%)
Number of crew who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 28 of 93 (30.1%)
Predominant symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, myalgia
Causative agent: ciguatera (presumed)
Actions in response to the outbreak
In response to the outbreak, Sea Cloud Cruises and the crew aboard the ship reported the following actions:
- Consulted with VSP
VSP reviewed the symptom profiles and food histories and remotely monitored the situation.
More information
Tracking GI illnesses
Gastrointestinal illness is a commonly used term for acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Reporting gastrointestinal illness is important. When passengers and crew tell the medical center onboard about their symptoms, it helps GI outbreaks get detected quickly. This allows steps to be taken to limit the spread of illness. Medical staff evaluate symptoms to see if they meet our case definition for AGE:
- Three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period or what is more than normal for that person OR
- Vomiting along with one of the following symptoms: diarrhea, muscle ache, headache, abdominal cramp, or fever
Cruise ships are required to report these cases to us.
Note: Cases reported are totals for the entire voyage. It does not mean all people are sick at the same time, such as when they arrive or leave a port or ship.