French authorities have lifted a lockdown order on a norovirus-hit cruise ship carrying mainly passengers from the UK and Ireland. The Ambition, operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, was prevented from disembarking for more than 24 hours after docking in Bordeaux on Tuesday.
Asymptomatic passengers were allowed to leave the ship from Wednesday afternoon, while those infected were ordered to remain in isolation. The ship had 1,187 passengers and 514 crew members onboard, with 48 passengers and one crew member reported to have active cases of gastrointestinal illness.
The lockdown followed the death of a 92-year-old British man from a heart attack, which health authorities said was unrelated to the norovirus outbreak. Norovirus is a highly contagious form of gastroenteritis causing vomiting and diarrhoea.
Samples from ill passengers were tested at a local hospital in Bordeaux. The ship set sail from Belfast on 8 May, called at Liverpool a day later, and was on a 14-night voyage to France and Spain. Cases of gastroenteritis rose after the embarkation in Liverpool.
Ambassador Cruise Line stated that enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols were implemented immediately, including increased cleaning, assisted dining, and guidance on hand hygiene. The company also confirmed no link with a hantavirus outbreak on another cruise ship.
