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A cruise ship that sparked rumors of a norovirus outbreak in Juneau and ports across Alaska prompted inquiries from reporters in Juneau, Sitka and Seward.

The rumor in Juneau was that 30 ill passengers had shown up at Bartlett Regional Hospital and that the Juneau Police Department had issued a health warning.

The hospital issued a statement calling it a "hoax" and said the part about the hospital's role was incorrect - statements which were then reported by the Empire and KTOO-FM.

But there was an outbreak of illness, probably norovirus, on the cruise ship Veendam when it arrived in Juneau on June 17, carrying 1,313 passengers and 556 crew. It was midway through a seven-day voyage out of Vancouver, Canada, according to officials with Holland America Line.

The ship had been battling the virus - which is unpleasant and easily spread, but not particularly dangerous - for days, cruise line and public health officials said.

On June 17, the Veendam reached the level of illness requiring formal notification to the Vessel Sanitation Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"If 3 percent become ill, they are to notify the CDC," said Bernadette Burden, spokeswoman for the Atlanta-based agency.

"One of our responsibilities - a congressional mandate - we are to monitor the health and safety of passengers in U.S. waters," she said.

Holland America Public Affairs Manager Sarah Scoltock said notification was made at 4:40 p.m. June 17, while the Veendam was in Juneau.

The CDC confirmed it was given notification then. The Veendam's medical staff also had made informal contact with CDC staff a day earlier to provide information about a possible outbreak and discuss preventative measures.

Burden and Scoltock said tests have not yet confirmed the sickness was caused by norovirus, and it may be a week or two before that is known for sure.

Among the steps taken on the ship were frequent hand-washing, changing buffet procedures and asking those with symptoms to remain in their cabins.

"We don't want people spreading the virus by sharing utensils," Scoltock said.

Despite those measures, by the time the Veendam reached Seward on June 20, 112 passengers, or 8.53 percent, were ill with the primary symptoms of norovirus, which include diarrhea and vomiting. Another 12 crew members, or 2.26 percent, also were sick.

Along its route from Haines to Juneau, Sitka and Seward, the Veendam was discharging passengers into communities without public notice that would enable residents who came into contact with them to take their own preventative measures.

Scoltock said that's not the cruise line's responsibility.

"We don't notify the city. We notify the Vessel Sanitation Program (at CDC), the VSP notifies the local health agency," Scoltock said.

Local officials say they have not received any notification. CDC's Burden said the Alaska state epidemiologist was notified.

State epidemiologist Dr. Beth Funk said her office was notified, but not until the week after the Veendam's last port of call. Funk said state health officials are precluded from regulating cruise ships like the Veendam and rely upon the CDC to do that.

Juneau City Manager Rod Swope said he's been promised notification by cruise ship companies, and the city is ready to issue press releases, make radio announcements and contact business associations to help residents take preventative measures.

Instead, Swope was surprised as anyone when he received the error-filled e-mail warning that was later labeled a hoax.

Scoltock said she was unaware of any such agreement.

"We're not obligated to work directly with the city," she said.

Local cruise line representatives, who do work regularly with the city, were unavailable Friday.

There are questions about notification of passengers on the ship as well.

Holland America's Scoltock said passengers were notified by letter in Haines of the outbreak on June 16, followed by two intercom announcements. A subsequent letter to passengers included additional instructions on how to prevent the spread of the virus, Scoltock said.

"Letters go out to every cabin, informing them what happened and precautions to take," she said.

Passengers interviewed by the Anchorage Daily News after the ship reached Seward said they were not informed, however.

"We knew nothing about this on the ship. They kept saying everything was fine," Peggy Maier, a 46-year old passenger told the paper after the trip.

Before the Veendam again departed Vancouver for Alaska, it underwent a "super-sanitizing" by the crew and 35 additional outside contractors. In addition, passengers were offered refunds if they wanted to cancel their trips, Scoltock said.

The Veendam left Vancouver for Alaska on Friday.

• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.