More than 70 people on a Royal Caribbean cruise are fighting a brutal virus outbreak. The ship left San Diego on September 19. Now dozens are sick with a disease that spreads like wildfire.

At least 71 passengers got sick. One crew member also fell ill. The Serenade of the Seas became a floating quarantine zone.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirmed the outbreak. They posted details on their website Sunday. The disease? Norovirus.

The Vessel Sanitation Program got the report quickly. Officials started tracking the situation right away.

Royal Caribbean didn’t sit idle. The crew ramped up cleaning procedures. They followed their outbreak prevention plan to the letter.

Workers collected stool samples from sick passengers. Testing began immediately. Ill passengers and crew went into isolation. The ship consulted with health officials about proper cleaning.

The CDC is watching closely. They’re reviewing the ship’s response remotely. Sanitation procedures are under constant scrutiny.

Nearly four percent of the ship’s passengers got sick. The vessel carried 1,874 passengers total. The math is troubling.

Symptoms hit hard and fast. Diarrhea struck most victims. Vomiting followed closely behind.

Dr. Aileen Marty works at Florida International University. She specializes in infectious diseases. She explained the danger to WSVN news.

“It’s going to make you nauseous, it’s going to give you vomiting, give you diarrhea for a few days and in it of itself, is not that bad, but if you get dehydrated from losing all those fluids, it can very serious.”

The doctor warned about how quickly norovirus spreads. Cruise ships create perfect conditions for transmission. Close quarters mean close contact.

“If the hygiene is not incredibly strict, it’s very easy that if one person brings this very contagious, hard-to-clean-off virus on board, that many people will get sick.”

Dr. Marty offered some reassurance about cruise safety overall.

“The vast majority of times cruise ships are safe, but when you’re on a cruise ship, you should absolutely follow all their rules and regulations about hygiene.”

Royal Caribbean issued a statement through a spokesperson. They emphasized their commitment to passenger safety.

“The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority. To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety aboard our ships we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.”

The cruise was planned as a 13-night voyage. It’s scheduled to end Thursday in Miami. Passengers are counting down the days until they can leave.

The outbreak shows how vulnerable people are in confined spaces. One sick person brought the virus aboard. Dozens paid the price.

Norovirus remains one of the most contagious diseases. It spreads through contaminated surfaces and food. Hand washing helps but isn’t foolproof.

The virus is particularly hard to kill. Standard cleaning products often fail. Specialized disinfectants are required.

For now, the ship continues toward Miami. Sick passengers remain isolated. Crew members work overtime on cleaning. Everyone hopes no one else gets sick before they reach port.