Swine flu diagnosed on cruise ship docked in Greece

ATHENS, Greece — Five people suffering from swine flu have been discovered aboard a cruise ship that docked in Greece.

The captain of the Ruby Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, asked doctors working with the Greek government to inspect the vessel after it arrived in the port of Piraeus from Turkey on Friday.

Health Ministry officials say the five cases were found among the 3,393 passengers and 1,196 crew members aboard the ship. The sick people were kept in their cabins, but everyone else was allowed to disembark.

Officials used the case to announce that cruise ship schedules will not be affected this summer because of swine flu, but that state doctors will be available to check passengers for flu symptoms — either at a captain’s request or the government’s.

The Ruby Princess is scheduled to leave for Venice, Italy, on Friday evening.