An outbreak of shigellosis aboard a cruise ship caused by a multiple-antibiotic-resistant strain of Shigella flexneri.

From October 23 to October 27, 1989, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean. The 818 passengers and 518 crew members were surveyed for gastrointestinal symptoms; 72 (14%) of 512 passengers and 12 (3%) of 388 crew members who answered the survey reported having a diarrheal illness. Multiple-antibiotic-resistant Shigella flexneri 4a was isolated from 19 ill passengers and two ill crew members.