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The National Geographic Sea Bird, operated by Lindblad Expeditions, is facing a troubling pattern of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks. Recently, the ship reported its third incident in just two months, affecting nearly 20 individuals on board, as highlighted in a report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted this latest outbreak in a recent update, with the illness being reported to their Vessel Sanitation Program on July 12. This marks the third time in a short span that passengers or crew members have experienced health issues aboard this vessel.

Out of the 62 passengers present, 18 exhibited symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal cramps. Unlike the previous two outbreaks, which were confirmed cases of norovirus, the cause of this latest illness remains unidentified.

This situation is not unprecedented for the Sea Bird. The first outbreak occurred on May 28, followed by another on June 28, both of which were confirmed norovirus cases, a virus notorious for its rapid spread in confined environments like cruise ships.

The latest outbreak coincided with a voyage from July 10 to July 15, during which the ship visited popular Alaskan destinations including Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Haines, Tracy Arm Fjord, and Juneau.

In response to the outbreak, Lindblad Expeditions and the crew acted swiftly. They isolated affected passengers and crew members to prevent further spread and collaborated with the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program to report the incidents and gather stool samples for analysis. Additionally, the cruise line enhanced its cleaning and sanitation protocols in accordance with the agency's guidelines. The Vessel Sanitation Program continues to monitor the situation, overseeing the cruise line's sanitation practices and response efforts.