Two hundred passengers on a cruise ship fell ill due to an outbreak of the highly infectious norovirus, New Zealand health authorities said on Monday.

Dr. Alistair Humphrey, the medical officer of health for Canterbury, said the outbreak now appears to be waning after tests confirmed the illness is norovirus.

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The gastrointestinal illness which typically lasts one to three days can cause stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

The infected passengers were among more than 1,500 aboard the Dawn Princess, which was due to leave for Australia Monday as it completes a 13-day voyage.

The ship is operated by Princess Cruises, a division of Miami-based Carnival Corp.

In a statement, Princess Cruises said affected passengers were isolated in their cabins until they were considered no longer contagious and that crew members had disinfected surfaces like railings, door handles and elevator buttons.

Crew members had also encouraged passengers to wash their hands correctly and use sanitizing gels, the cruise operator said. 

Norovirus was also responsible for 169 outbreaks of illness in 2013, affecting 3685 people.  

The Ministry of Health's Web site states norovirus spreads easily from person to person. 

The virus could survive on contaminated surfaces even after cleaning with some disinfectants.

Those with norovirus were infectious for at least three days after their symptoms stopped and could be infectious for up to two weeks on some occasions.

Norovirus could be spread through contaminated food or drinks, touching contaminated surfaces or objects then putting your fingers in your mouth, having direct contact with an infected person (such as sharing food or eating from the same plate or cutlery), and through the air (when vomiting sent tiny particles into the air). 

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