Key Summary
- More than 1,700 people are currently banned from disembarking the British cruise ship Ambition in Bordeaux following a suspected stomach flu outbreak.
- Ambassador Cruise Line has confirmed 48 active cases among guests and one among the crew as of May 13.
- French health authorities are conducting laboratory tests at Bordeaux University Hospital to confirm the cause of the illness before granting clearance.
More than 1,700 passengers and crew members have been ordered not to leave their cruise ship while French health officials carry out tests after a likely stomach flu outbreak onboard.
The British-based cruise liner Ambition, operated by Essex-based Ambassador Cruise Line, set sail from Belfast on May 8 for a 14-night tour of western France and Spain.
Dozens of cases of suspected gastroenteritis have since been reported among those onboard. The vessel had previously called at Liverpool on Saturday, where the number of cases reportedly began to rise following the embarkation of new passengers.
Regional health authorities in Bordeaux carried out a routine review of the ship's health records upon its arrival in the city.
A specialist medical team has collected samples for testing at Bordeaux University Hospital, with results expected to take at least six hours. Passengers and crew will only be permitted to disembark once clearance is granted based on the test results.
Ambassador Cruise Line confirmed that as of May 13, there were 48 active cases of gastrointestinal illness among guests and one case among the crew.
One of the ship's passengers, a 92-year old Briton, had passed away on board due to a cardiac arrest during a stop in Brest, Brittany, on May 11.
That death did not appear to be associated with the gastrointestinal outbreak, said the local French authority responsible for the Bordeaux region.
Enhanced sanitation measures have been implemented across the ship, including increased cleaning and disinfection of public areas, assisted service in selected dining venues, and ongoing guidance to guests regarding hand hygiene.
Viral gastroenteritis, commonly known as "stomach flu," is frequently caused by viruses such as norovirus or rotavirus. Health officials noted that there is currently no reason to link this outbreak with the recent hantavirus cluster reported on the luxury vessel MV Hondius.
Guests whose excursions were cancelled due to the quarantine will receive a full refund. The ship is currently carrying 1,187 guests—the majority of whom are British—and 514 crew members.
Gastrointestinal illnesses can be common on cruise ships. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has this year reported two outbreaks of E. coli and two outbreaks of norovirus on cruise ships.
