Yeah, so, you won’t be finding us on a cruise ship ANY TIME SOON!
The hantavirus outbreak is already sparking panic, but now a whole different cruise ship is suffering another virus outbreak — and even more people are sick!
An Ambassador Cruise Line ship named Ambition is currently docked in Bordeaux, France, where about 50 passengers are sick with what’s believed to be norovirus, a highly contagious stomach flu that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, and more. Not only that, but one of the travelers has even died!
A government spokesperson told People on Wednesday that a 92-year-old British passenger died on Monday while on the ship — but “no link has been established with the gastroenteritis outbreak.” He sadly died of suspected cardiac arrest, but an official cause of death hasn’t been announced by a coroner.
Related: Health Update On French Woman Who Contracted Hantavirus Onboard
Still, there are about 50 people experiencing “symptoms consistent with an acute gastrointestinal infection,” ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine confirmed in a press release, out of a total of more than 1,700 passengers and crew. The ill travelers have been isolating in their cabins as they receive treatment from the ship’s doctor, and a medical team is headed to assist, as well. Samples collected reportedly confirmed the cause of the outbreak was norovirus, the Gironde département said via The Times:
“The results of the epidemiological investigation and the biological samples analysed at the Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU de Bordeaux) confirm that this is indeed an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis (norovirus), transmitted either from person to person or through environmental contamination. At this stage, no serious cases have been reported.”
The ship left from the Shetland Islands in Scotland on May 6 and visited Belfast and Liverpool, after which there was an increase in illness, before getting to France. It was supposed to go to Spain before this ordeal. While it’s certainly unnerving to hear of another, much larger outbreak on a cruise ship right now, the press release insisted:
“There is no reason to link this outbreak on board a cruise ship from Belfast and Liverpool with the hantavirus cases detected on the MV Hondius.”
According to reports, most of the about 1,233 passengers are from the UK or Ireland. Everyone was initially confined to the boat, but according to Reuters, French authorities have now allowed some asymptomatic passengers to leave the ship — this as of Wednesday evening. Everyone who isn’t feeling well is still on the ship where they’re being treated. So, officials are clearly trying to avoid a massive spread! That said, the cruise ship has now been allowed to determine whether or not it’ll continue its voyage.
While this is a huge outbreak, this kind of sickness is actually very common on cruise ships, and it’s the third norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship already this year, Reuters reported. Importantly, it’s also way less severe than hantavirus. Most people recover without treatment — though young kids, older people, and those with other conditions may get severely dehydrated and need help, per the Mayo Clinic.
It’s scary out there, y’all! Wash your hands and stay safe!
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