Skip directly to: content | left navigation | search
  1. VSP Home > Disease Surveillance and Investigation > Updates of GI Illness > Investigation Update on the Volendam

Investigation Update on the Volendam

  • Cruise Line: Holland America Line
  • Cruise Ship: Volendam
  • Voyage Dates: 1/2-1/12
  • Number of ill passengers out of total number of passengers: 85 of 1451 (5.86%)
  • Number of ill crew out of total number of crew: 7 of 608 (1.15%)
  • Predominant symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting
  • Actions: In response to the outbreak, Holland America Line and the crew aboard the ship took the following actions:
    • increased cleaning and disinfection procedures,
    • sent senior environmental health specialists for additional support;
    • sent additional staff to support the increased cleaning and disinfection;
    • collected stool specimens for analysis;
    • delayed the time of embarkation;
    • sent daily updates to CDC until the number of ill people returned to expected levels.
  • On January 12th, VSP staff boarded the ship to conduct a targeted environmental health assessment and make recommendations.
    • During the following voyage (sailing dates 1/12-1/22) the number of ill people returned to expected levels. The voyage subsequent to that one (sailing dates 1/22-2/1), the number of people that reported being ill increased; VSP continued to monitor the ship until the numbers returned and remained at expected levels again (voyage with sailing dates: 2/1-2/11).