More than a dozen people got sick with gastrointestinal illness on a National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions cruise, marking the vessel’s fourth outbreak in less than two months.
Eight of the 57 guests sailing aboard National Geographic Sea Bird reported being ill during its July 15 voyage, along with five crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their main symptoms were abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea.
The cause is unknown. The ship is currently operating in Alaska, according to CruiseMapper.
The cruise company implemented heightened disinfection and cleaning measures and isolated sick guests and employees, among other steps, according to the health agency. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions did
not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The cases follow three other outbreaks on the ship since late May. The first two were caused by norovirus, while the cause of the third remains unknown, the CDC said.
The health agency previously told USA TODAY in an email that more than 90% of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruises with a confirmed cause are due to norovirus.
"People joining the cruise ship may bring the virus to other passengers and crew," the CDC said. "Characteristics of norovirus that facilitate outbreaks include a low infective dose, easy person-to-person transmissibility, prolonged viral shedding, absence of long-term immunity, the ability of the virus to survive routine cleaning procedures, and the absence of a vaccine."
The CDC has logged nine outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships that met its threshold for public notification so far in 2026. Norovirus was listed as the cause of five, and two were caused by E. coli.
Twenty-three outbreaks met that threshold last year, with 18 caused by norovirus. Norovirus also was behind 15 out of 18 outbreaks in 2024. While the illness is often associated with cruise ships, those account for just 1% of reported outbreaks.
Outbreaks are "often taking place within the community, and oftentimes we don't know that they're happening," Sarah R. Michaels, an assistant professor at Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, previously told USA TODAY. "Really, when we have these areas where people … are in really close contact, things like day care facilities, nursing homes and cruise ships, it’s more likely (to be) diagnosed, reported and brought to our attention."
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 13 people sick in fourth cruise ship GI outbreak in less than 2 months
