For Americans planning cruise ship vacations this spring or summer, there could be reason to worry about more than rough seas, experts say.

Recent government cuts included top staff at the Vessel Sanitation Program, which is run by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and conducts inspections and investigates illnesses.

The reductions, part of larger Trump administration cuts, come amid a surge in cruise ship outbreaks fueled by a new strain of norovirus.

Norovirus, sometimes called the “cruise ship virus,” spreads quickly in crowded conditions. It causes sudden vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Most people recover in a few days, but the illness can be dangerous for young children, older adults, and those with underlying health issues.

How passengers can protect them

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