Cruise ships record three gastrointestinal outbreaks in early 2026

6 articles · Updated · WLWT Cincinnati · May 4

The cases were an April E. coli outbreak on Insignia, a March norovirus outbreak on Star Princess and a January E. coli outbreak on Seven Seas Mariner.
CDC data also show 23 GI outbreaks in 2025 under its Vessel Sanitation Program, with outbreaks defined as illness affecting at least 3% of passengers or crew.
Norovirus remains the most common cruise-ship virus, and CDC research links higher illness rates to larger ships and longer voyages, as crowded semi-enclosed conditions help infections spread.

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