MORE than 300 passengers and crew aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 were struck by a highly contagious form of stomach flu during a worldwide cruise.
An estimated two hundred and seventy six passengers and 28 crew members had come down with the infection by the time the Southampton-based ship docked in San Francisco yesterday.
Health officials said some passengers began to feel ill with symptoms associated with norovirus -a virus responsible for gastroenteritis - on January 11.
The bug usually lasts for two or three days and causes stomach cramps, sickness and diarrhoea.
The spread of the infection - which is common at this time of year - was unusually high.
Emergency sanitation measures - such as disinfecting casino chips and cancelling the self-service buffet - have been put in place.
A Cunard Line spokesman said all but six passengers who came down with the illness have since recovered.
Pasengers have paid from £10,449 each for the full cruise on the QE2 left Southampton on January 2 on the first leg of its 108-day voyage.
It was due to leave San Francisco last night.
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