What is the story about?
French authorities have confined over 1,700 passengers and crew members aboard a British cruise ship following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness.
The ship, named Ambition, arrived in Bordeaux on Tuesday as part of a 14-night cruise from Belfast and Liverpool. The prefect of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, Étienne Guyot, confirmed the decision to restrict disembarkation after the ship's captain reported symptoms consistent with acute digestive infection. Authorities have stated there is no connection between this incident and a separate hantavirus outbreak on another vessel.
Details of the Outbreak
The Ambition was on a scheduled cruise that included stops in northern Spain and along France's Atlantic coast. French health authorities indicated that up to 50 passengers exhibited symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, prompting immediate medical attention and isolation of the affected individuals.A medical team has been dispatched to the ship, and samples from the sick passengers are being analyzed at a Bordeaux hospital. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded numerous gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships in the past year, predominantly attributed to norovirus.
Health and Safety Measures
In response to the outbreak, Ambassador Cruise Line announced the cancellation of all shore excursions in Bordeaux and is offering affected passengers full refunds. The company also reported that a 92-year-old male passenger had died on Sunday, although he had not shown symptoms related to the outbreak, and the cause of death remains under investigation.As of late Wednesday morning, 48 passengers and one crew member were reported to be displaying gastrointestinal symptoms. The prefect's actions to restrict the ship's interactions with the port of Bordeaux were taken based on recommendations from the regional health agency.
Context of Recent Outbreaks
This incident follows a recent norovirus outbreak on the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, where over 140 passengers and 15 crew members fell ill. The CDC continues to monitor such outbreaks closely, particularly those affecting ships that call on U.S. and foreign ports.Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the situation develops and results from the medical analyses become available.
