Norovirus Outbreak Hits Caribbean Cruise Ship

More than 170 cruise ship passengers and crew members heading to the Caribbean have fallen sick with the gastrointestinal illness norovirus.

The Caribbean Princess was forced to return two days early to the Bayport Cruise Terminal in Houston, Texas, late on Thursday.

Health officials will oversee an "extensive sanitation of the ship" on Friday.

Norovirus is a highly contagious illness that can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Princess Cruises, which owns the ship, initially said the ship was returning early due to fog but later confirmed the spread of norovirus.

The ship embarked on the seven-day trip on January 25 with more than 4,200 people aboard. It had been set to return on Saturday.

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas returned to New Jersey on Wednesday after nearly 700 aboard fell sick with the same gastrointestinal illness.

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