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Norovirus outbreak reported on cruise ship docked in Virginia

By Daniel Uria
U.K. based cruise line Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines released a statement on Friday saying that it's ship the Balmoral, which is docked in Norfolk, Virginia, was not quarantined due to a norovirus outbreak. A Wednesday report by the CBC stated that 153 of the ships 917 passengers and six crew members had reported being ill with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea; which were attributed to norovirus. The Cruise line said that only 7 total people on board had been quarantined and the Virginia Department of Health did not respond to the report because it was out of their jurisdiction. 
 Photo by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines/Facebook
U.K. based cruise line Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines released a statement on Friday saying that it's ship the Balmoral, which is docked in Norfolk, Virginia, was not quarantined due to a norovirus outbreak. A Wednesday report by the CBC stated that 153 of the ships 917 passengers and six crew members had reported being ill with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea; which were attributed to norovirus. The Cruise line said that only 7 total people on board had been quarantined and the Virginia Department of Health did not respond to the report because it was out of their jurisdiction. Photo by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines/Facebook

NORFOLK, Va., April 30 (UPI) -- A U.K.-based cruise ship docked in Virginia after several passengers were diagnosed with norovirus.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines released a statement on Friday saying the Balmoral, which is docked in Norfolk, Va., has not been quarantined and would continue to Baltimore as planned.

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The CDC said 153 of the ships 917 passengers and six crew members reported being ill with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said there were seven passengers in isolation due to illness and the crew had been undertaking "extensive sanitization measures and cleaning of the ship."

"Fred. Olsen is co-operating fully with all the necessary maritime agencies and authorities,‎ as Balmoral continues on her cruise, and will continue to make e‎very effort possible to ensure the safety and well-being of all its guests and crew on board, which is of paramount ‎importance," the statement said.

The ship departed from Southampton on April 16 as part of a 34-night "Old England to New England" cruise.

Two U.S. nationals were reportedly on board. Most of the passengers were from the United Kingdom.

According to WKTR, the ship's captain, Bent Ivar Gangdal, said no one has been off the ship since April 20. A planned disembarkation in Bermuda did not occur.

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