SAN FRANCISCO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- More than 70 passengers on board a cruise ship of Holland America Line fell ill during an outbreak of norovirus in the U.S. northwestern state of Alaska.

Holland America confirmed that 73 people reported falling ill with a stomach virus on the cruise ship of Zaandam, the Anchorage Daily News (ADN) quoted the cruise company as saying.

While the Zaandam was docking at Juneau, the state's capital, staff of the cruise ship isolated ill passengers in their cabins and cleaned railings, door handles and other commonly touched surfaces to prevent the virus from spreading further.

The ship was carrying more than 2,000 passengers and crew members.

Norovirus is the most common cause of an infectious disease characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and sometimes fever or headaches. It may be caused by contaminated food, water or person-to-person contact.

It was the sixth reported norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship this year and the second in Alaska, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Last month, 36 people aboard the cruise ship Silver Shadow fell ill during a voyage that included Dutch Harbor, Kodiak and Homer, according to the ADN.