A passenger has died and nearly 2,000 people are quarantined on a cruise ship in France after a suspected norovirus outbreak. French health officials confined 1,700 tourists and crew aboard the Ambassador Cruise Line vessel in Bordeaux following concerns over a passenger's death.
Details of the Outbreak
A 90-year-old British passenger died, and 50 people have shown symptoms of the infectious illness, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea. The ship, carrying mostly British and Irish passengers, docked near Bordeaux yesterday. More than a dozen people are currently symptomatic.
Response from Cruise Line
Ambassador Cruise Line stated on social media that it takes any illnesses onboard its ships extremely seriously. Enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols were immediately implemented across the ship following initial reports of illness. Measures include increased cleaning and disinfection in public areas, assisted service in selected dining venues, and ongoing guidance on hand hygiene.
Meanwhile, passengers from the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius cruise were evacuated earlier this week after the ship docked in Tenerife. British passengers were tested and transferred to a hospital in Merseyside, while the ship continued to the Netherlands for disinfection, carrying the body of a German tourist who died from a suspected hantavirus infection. Over the weekend, the Caribbean Princess cruise also experienced a viral norovirus outbreak, with more than 100 passengers falling ill.
