Robert Herriman of Outbreak News Today reports that in a follow-up on the outbreak onboard the Silversea Cruises ship, Silver Spirit, last month, health officials have reported yesterday that the cause of the outbreak that sickened 37 was Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC).

The outbreak on the Silver Spirit voyage from March 3 – 21 resulted in the sickening of 24 of 388 passengers and 13 of 366 crew members.

Infection occurs when a person eats food, or drinks water or ice contaminated with ETEC bacteria. Human or animal wastes (e.g., feces) are the ultimate source of ETEC contamination.