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Nearly 100 people aboard Disney cruise ship were affected by gastrointestinal illness last week, reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An official investigation has been launched by CDC to find out the actual cause behind the illness.

According to CDC's report released later last week a total of 97 people including 92 passengers and 5 crew members fell sick but the number increased to 145 on Monday including 131 passengers and 14 crew members. The symptoms of the infection experienced by people include vomiting and diarrhea, according to Orlando Sentinel.

Disney cruise ship that had a total of 2700 passengers and around 1000 crew members is said to have left to Bahamas last Wednesday from Miami and returned back on Sunday. On account of the infection the cruise line is said to have stopped its self-service buffet and ice cream stations in order to limit passengers' contact with food. As a part of the sanitation procedure the handrails were reportedly cleaned every now and then to limit infection.

"Our primary focus was on taking care of our guests and crew," Disney Cruise Line said in a statement," reported CBS News. We have a comprehensive plan that outlines protocols for managing this kind of situation and closely follow CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of common stomach-related illnesses."

The Disney cruise lines' regular sanitation procedures include providing hand wipes to passengers every time before meal and sanitizer station were also set up throughout the ship. The Disney wonder is said to have got 99 out of 100 in three inspections conducted by CDC in the past.

Disney cruise line has announced to provide refund and credits to affected people on case by case basis. Meanwhile maritime lawyer Jim Walker wrote on a blog about the incident that Disney cruise is one of the cruises that isn't frequently affected by such stomach illnesses.

"The CDC has reported nine other outbreaks on different cruise lines this year. Most of the causes were norovirus. The previous time a serious outbreak was reported on a Disney ship was in 2002. Then, hundreds were sickened on two Disney Magic cruises out of Port Canaveral," noted Orlando Sentinel.