Passenger Dies and 2,000 Quarantined on Cruise Ship After Suspected Norovirus Outbreak
A British passenger has died and dozens of others have fallen ill following a suspected norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship carrying nearly 2,000 people. French health officials have confined 1,700 tourists and crew members aboard the Ambassador Cruise Line ship in Bordeaux, southwestern France, after concerns over the passenger's death. Dozens of individuals are exhibiting symptoms of the sickness bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
The Ambition vessel, with most passengers from Britain or Ireland, docked near Bordeaux on May 12, where health authorities boarded to collect samples for testing. Ambassador Cruise Line reported that a 92-year-old male guest passed away on Sunday, May 10. The passenger, believed to be British, died before the ship arrived in Brest. The cruise line stated that the passenger did not report any gastroenteritis symptoms, and the cause of death has yet to be confirmed by the coroner.
An additional 49 people have shown symptoms of the highly infectious illness, which can spread through surfaces and via contact. Cases on board increased after more guests embarked from Liverpool on Saturday, May 9. Ambassador Cruise Line expressed condolences to the deceased's friends and family, stating, "We are providing every support to the deceased’s friends and family and extend our most sincere condolences to them at this difficult time." The company emphasized that any illnesses aboard are taken extremely seriously, and enhanced sanitation and prevention measures were immediately implemented across the ship in line with public health procedures.
These measures include increased cleaning and disinfection in public areas, assisted service in selected dining venues, and ongoing guidance to guests regarding hand hygiene, including regular hand washing, use of hand sanitisers, and prompt reporting of symptoms to the onboard medical team. All passengers and crew have been instructed to remain on board as per French authorities, with all shore excursions cancelled. Passengers will be allowed to disembark only after receiving clearance from officials.
The cruise ship departed the Shetland Islands on May 6, stopping in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before continuing to Liverpool, Brest in western France, and then to Bordeaux. It was scheduled to travel to Spain before the suspected infection halted the journey. Meanwhile, passengers from the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius cruise were evacuated earlier this week after their journey from Argentina and the South Atlantic to Tenerife, where the ship docked on Sunday. British passengers were tested and evacuated to a hospital in Merseyside, while the cruise ship continued to the Netherlands for disinfection, carrying the body of a German tourist who died from a suspected hantavirus infection.
Officials from numerous countries rushed to trace individuals who may have been in contact with passengers from the Hondius cruise after some people disembarked on St Helena. Ten people from the remote St Helena and Ascension Island, British overseas territories, were later flown to the UK to self-isolate as a precaution after contact with infected passengers. Over the weekend, the Caribbean Princess cruise experienced a viral norovirus outbreak, with more than 100 passengers falling ill. The massive ship, carrying 3,116 passengers and crew, was en route to the Dominican Republic when the violent sickness bug spread through it.
