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Norovirus Hits Largest Cruise Ship

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More than 330 passengers were struck with norovirus while vacationing in the Caribbean on the world’s largest cruise ship, Independence of the Seas, The Washington Post reports. The remaining 5,000 people on board armed themselves with soap and water, following advice sent in a letter from the cruise ship operator Royal Caribbean.

The five-day cruise set out from Miami last week. Two days later passengers began reporting symptoms of norovirus, overwhelming the ship’s medical personnel.

Norovirus can be brought on ships via contaminated food or water or by passengers who were infected while ashore, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus can persist on surfaces and is resistant to many common disinfectants.