Epidemiological surveillance was initiated by Hong Kong health authorities on March 1st, 2026 after the HAL-Holland America's cruise vessel MS Westerdam made port at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal with a significant number of people aboard who had developed symptoms consistent with acute gastroenteritis during the voyage.
The ship, carrying approximately 2000 passengers and 800 crew members on a circular itinerary that had included calls in Japan, South Korea and mainland China since mid-February, presented a total of 76 confirmed cases of gastrointestinal illness characterised by vomiting, diarrhoea and fever, according to interim findings by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Hong Kong Department of Health. Laboratory analyses of stool samples from a subset of affected individuals detected norovirus, a common cause of outbreaks in enclosed environments such as cruise ships.
Port health teams boarded Westerdam at about 04:00 local time following advance notification from the vessel’s medical personnel and immediately sought detailed information on the cases, initiating environmental and epidemiological assessments while also inspecting food hygiene standards on board. In accordance with established public health guidelines, authorities established a temporary medical station at the terminal to conduct triage on disembarking travellers and to monitor the general health status of those leaving the ship. A majority of the reported cases remained mild, with only a few individuals exhibiting lingering symptoms upon arrival and none requiring hospital admission.
Following disembarkation and the assessments ashore, the operator carried out enhanced sanitation protocols, including thorough cleaning and disinfection of public areas consistent with international ship sanitation standards. The vessel was permitted to depart later in the day, bound for the next port of call, after port health officials determined that onboard conditions and hygiene measures met the necessary criteria for safe continuation of the voyage.
Ongoing public health advice emphasised the importance of personal and environmental hygiene in preventing transmission of norovirus, which is known to spread readily in close-contact settings.
For more ms Westerdam incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page.