Another cruise ship has been hit by a bout of gastroenteritis, this time leaving 158 passengers and some crew confined to their cabins, New South Wales Health authorities have said.

The outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis happened aboard the Diamond Princess, which has just docked in Sydney with about 4,000 passengers and crew.

Public health director with the South East Sydney Local Health District, Professor Mark Ferson, said the outbreak was contained.

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“There have been 158 passengers and a very small number of crew with gastroenteritis seen at the ship’s medical clinic over the duration of the cruise, and the outbreak is under control,” Professor Ferson said in a statement.

“There have been no medical disembarkations or patients requiring hospitalisation.”

One disembarking passenger told the ABC she believed the virus began spreading when a passenger failed to report feeling sick.

“Somebody had come on five days earlier and hadn’t reported it, so that’s obviously what started it off,” she said.

“When anyone got sick you were supposed to report it to them immediately, then you were quarantined.”

Health authorities said the ship had ramped up its infection control measures, including increased sanitation.

Passengers stopped from self-serving

Another passenger praised the measures taken by the cruise operators to contain the virus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

“We were very well informed; they let us know when there was an outbreak and they informed all the passengers regularly about the measures they were taking to stop the spread,” she said.

“In the restaurants they stopped self-serving and we were served by the attendants, so we weren’t allowed to touch anything.

“At one stage they had increased numbers, and then they let us know they had it under control.”

Professors Ferson said there will be further cleaning and hygiene procedures taken out before passengers board this afternoon, and incoming passengers will notified of the outbreak.

About 182 people fell ill when an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis hit the Explorer of the Seas luxury cruise liner just last month, which was also docked in Sydney.