Hundreds of British nationals are being held aboard a French cruise ship after a passenger died from suspected norovirus, while dozens of others have begun displaying symptoms of the highly contagious illness. French authorities on Wednesday confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew members to the Ambassador Cruise Line vessel, which is currently docked in the western port of Bordeaux.
Details of the Incident
The ship, which carries a majority of British and Irish passengers—1,233 out of the total—arrived in Bordeaux on Tuesday. Health officials confirmed that a 90-year-old British passenger had died, and approximately 50 people have exhibited symptoms consistent with norovirus. Norovirus, a form of gastroenteritis, causes vomiting and diarrhoea and is known for its high transmissibility.
Ship's Journey and Quarantine
The vessel departed from the Shetland Islands on May 6, making stops in Belfast (Northern Ireland), Liverpool (England), and Brest (France) before reaching Bordeaux. It was originally scheduled to continue its voyage to Spain. However, following the outbreak, French health authorities have implemented a quarantine measure to prevent further spread of the virus.
This is a developing story, and further updates are expected as the situation unfolds.
