Health officials in Hong Kong launched epidemiological surveillance procedures Sunday after a norovirus outbreak was reported aboard the MS Westerdam during its call at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

The ship arrived with 76 confirmed cases of acute gastroenteritis, including 65 passengers and 11 crew members, according to the Centre for Health Protection. Symptoms reported since February 15 included vomiting, diarrhea, and fever while the vessel was sailing through Japan, South Korea, and mainland China.

Port Health inspectors boarded the ship at approximately 4 a.m. local time after receiving advance notification from the cruise operator. Authorities said they immediately requested detailed information from the ship’s medical team and convened interdepartmental meetings to assess public health risks before the vessel docked.

In coordination with the World Health Organization guidelines, officials established a temporary medical station at the terminal to conduct triage for roughly 2,000 travelers disembarking the vessel.

Laboratory testing confirmed norovirus in seven stool samples. Health officials described the situation as stable, noting that only three individuals exhibited mild symptoms upon arrival and none required hospitalization.

Following passenger disembarkation, the ship carried out enhanced sanitation measures, including deep cleaning and chemical disinfection of common areas under protocols aligned with the Ship Sanitation Program, an international standard for cruise ship health safety.

Authorities also emphasized that norovirus activity remains elevated across parts of East Asia, particularly in Japan and South Korea, and said they have strengthened training for cleaning personnel in biological containment procedures.