A cruise ship carrying numerous British passengers affected by norovirus has been cleared from quarantine. Concerns were raised by passengers when all 1,701 individuals on board the Ambition vessel were prevented from disembarking for more than 24 hours upon arrival in Bordeaux due to an outbreak of a vomiting virus that resulted in one fatality and numerous illnesses.
Local authorities permitted symptom-free individuals to leave the ship yesterday, while those infected were instructed to remain isolated on board. Norovirus, a highly contagious form of gastroenteritis causing vomiting and diarrhea, was identified as the cause.
Health authorities indicated that the 92-year-old British man who passed away had a heart attack, which was deemed unrelated to the norovirus outbreak. Ambassador Cruise Line, based in Essex, reported that 48 passengers and one crew member had active cases of gastrointestinal illness.
With a total of 1,187 passengers and 514 crew members on board, samples from those affected were analyzed at a local hospital in Bordeaux. One passenger, Seos Guilidhe, mentioned that activities like bingo helped pass the time during the lockdown, comparing the experience favorably to the challenges faced during the Covid pandemic.
The cruise ship departed from Belfast on May 8, making a stop in Liverpool before embarking on a 14-night journey to France and Spain. The number of gastroenteritis cases increased following the boarding of passengers in Liverpool.
In response to the situation, Ambassador Cruise Line emphasized their commitment to addressing onboard illnesses seriously by implementing enhanced sanitation and prevention measures in accordance with public health guidelines. The cruise line’s spokesperson clarified that there was no connection to the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
