Norovirus strikes 172 people on Crown Princess cruise, CDC says

SAN PEDRO, Calif. (KABC) -- A norovirus outbreak struck the Crown Princess during a month-long Pacific cruise. The ship docked in San Pedro on Sunday.

At least 172 people fell ill with the highly contagious stomach virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ship was met by CDC staff upon arrival and has been inspected by a CDC environmental health officer.

The Crown Princess set off from Papeete, Tahiti to Los Angeles on Oct. 18. According to the CDC, 158 of 3,009 passengers were sickened with norovirus, while 14 of 1,160 crew members were affected.

An all-out effort got underway to sanitize the ship to further prevent the spread of any germs. In a statement, Princess Cruises said the ship would "increase cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan."

The Crown Princess was expected to depart again Sunday night for the Mexican Riviera.

Passengers told Eyewitness News that the captain and crew did an "amazing" job handling the situation, and it won't deter them from taking another cruise.

The norovirus, which has been a recurring problem for the cruise industry, causes flu-like symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. The virus can be transmitted from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces.

In April, 129 people on the same ship contracted norovirus during a seven-day cruise off the California coast.

Most people who contract norovirus get better within one to three days.