A virus known as the stomach bug that has surged across parts of the country is the cause of nearly all diarrhea outbreaks reported on cruise ships that docked at U.S. ports in 2024, federal data shows.

Cruise ships saw the highest number of stomach bug illnesses since 2012 with 16 outbreaks impacting a total of 1,894 passengers.

(CNN) - Illnesses on cruise ships have hit a 12-year high. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show there were outbreaks on 16 different cruise ships in 2024. The majority of the illnesses were norovirus cases. More than 2,000 passengers and crew were impacted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified 2024 as the worst year for stomach illness outbreaks on cruise ships in over a decade as Norovirus cases surged in the U.S. In just the past month,