1,700 confined on cruise ship amid suspected norovirus outbreak in France - BERITAJA

French authorities connected Wednesday confined 1,700 passengers and unit to a cruise ship docked successful Bordeaux aft a rider died and about 50 fell sick pinch suspected gastrointestinal unwellness (GII), different known arsenic norovirus, the Ambassador Cruise Line confirmed to BERITAJA.

The ship, which has 1,187 guests connected board, the mostly of whom are British and Irish nationals, and 514 crew, arrived successful the French municipality connected Tuesday, wherever French wellness officials boarded.

“As of 11:00 a.m. UK clip connected 13 May 2026, location are forty-eight progressive impermanent cases of GII onboard Ambition and 1 unit case,” the cruise liner told BERITAJA successful a statement.

The origin of decease for the passenger, who was 90, is pending confirmation from the coroner, according to The Guardian.

The uptick successful cases seems to person occurred connected May 9, pursuing embarkation successful Liverpool connected England’s northwest coast, the institution said. The vessel had departed from Belfast a time anterior connected a planned 14-day excursion.

Upon presence successful Bordeaux, French authorities conducted a “routine” reappraisal of the ship’s wellness position and records and collected samples for laboratory testing astatine Bordeaux University Hospital.

“While the investigation and testing are ongoing, each guests and unit person been instructed to stay onboard nether the guidance of the section statement authorities. Once clearance is granted, guests will beryllium permitted to disembark,” the connection said.

“We would for illustration to reassure guests that we return immoderate illnesses aboard our fleet highly seriously. Enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols were instantly implemented crossed the vessel successful statement pinch established nationalist wellness procedures pursuing the first reports of illness,” it continued.

All statement excursions were cancelled and refunded, and aesculapian consultations relating to GII are being provided free of charge, the cruise liner said.

The outbreak comes amid an unrelated activity of hantavirus cases believed to person originated connected a cruise ship moored successful Cape Verde, a mini land disconnected the seashore of West Africa, and reports of norovirus aboard a Caribbean cruise.

Earlier this week, much than 100 passengers and unit members fell sick during a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC said that 102 passengers and 13 unit members reported becoming sick during the voyage, which took spot from April 28 to May 11.

Norovirus is highly contagious and thrives successful places wherever group stitchery successful adjacent quarters, making cruise ships susceptible to outbreaks, the U.S. wellness statement says.

According to the CDC, norovirus could beryllium contracted from an infected person, contaminated nutrient aliases water, aliases by rubbing contaminated surfaces. The microorganism causes inflammation of the tummy aliases intestines, starring to tummy pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

The outbreak connected the Caribbean Princess comes much than a period aft different norovirus outbreak was reported connected the cruise line’s Star Princess ship.

In March, the CDC reported that 141 passengers and 52 unit members became sick pinch norovirus aboard the Star Princess cruise ship. The vessel near Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and made stops successful the Caribbean, Honduras, Belize and the Mexican Riviera.

In April 2025, 240 group had fallen sick connected the Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, pursuing a norovirus outbreak.

–– With files from BERITAJA’ Katie Scott