CDC confirms 172 passengers on Crown Princess cruise fell ill with norovirus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Monday that 172 people on board a cruise ship that arrived in California on Sunday have fallen ill with the highly contagious norovirus while on a monthlong cruise vacation.

At least 158 of 3,009 passengers and 14 of 1,160 crew members came down with the virus aboard the Crown Princess during a 28-day cruise that docked in Los Angeles on Sunday.

This Crown Princess had sailed from Los Angeles to Hawaii and Tahiti.

In a statement, Princess Cruises said the ship would "increase cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan." 

"We are sorry this incident has impacted our guests' vacations and are grateful for their understanding given the circumstances. The health and safety of our crew and guests is our top priority," Princess Cruises said. 

A CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officer was expected to board the ship Sunday to conduct a health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities. They will do a deep cleaning of the ship and terminal in Los Angeles before departing Sunday night for a week long cruise through the Mexican Riviera, said spokeswoman Susan Lomax, according to the Associated Press.

"As it is the cold and flu season, when the stomach flu circulates on land, we encourage all of our guests to be diligent in following the widely accepted practices of frequent hand washing with soap and water and the use of hand sanitisers," Lomax said.

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

Symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, fever and body aches. According to the CDC, most people recover within three days.