NEW YORK, N.Y. – In a story Jan. 15 about illnesses on cruise ships, The Associated Press erroneously described the drop in illnesses caused by stomach bugs. Since 1990, the illness rate has fallen from about 29 to 22 per 100,000 travel days, not per 100,000 passengers.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Report: Cruise ship stomach sickness becoming less common

Health officials say cruise ship passengers are getting sick with a stomach bug less often

By MIKE STOBBE

AP Medical Writer

Health officials say cruise ship passengers are getting sick with a stomach bug less often.

About 20 outbreaks are reported each year on ships that dock at U.S. ports, on average. Many draw media coverage.

But it’s becoming less common for passengers to get sick, according to figures released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since 1990, the illness rate has fallen from about 29 to 22 per 100,000 travel days. Officials say cruise ship companies are doing more to disinfect ships and prevent outbreaks.

It wasn’t a steady decline. Cases spiked in 2012 when a new strain of norovirus emerged. Norovirus causes most stomach illnesses on cruise ships.

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Online:

CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr