One dead and 1,700 travelers confined due to a gastroenteritis outbreak on a cruise ship in Bordeaux
About fifty people have suffered vomiting and diarrhea, but people without symptoms can now leave the ship
BarcelonaA gastroenteritis outbreak on a cruise ship has caused the death of a 90-year-old man and forced the confinement of 1,700 passengers in Bordeaux until the cause of the contagion was clarified, as dozens of cases of acute illness have appeared. This Wednesday afternoon, French health authorities confirmed that it was gastroenteritis and lifted the confinement of asymptomatic individuals, who were able to disembark.
"Indeed, it is an episode of gastroenteritis of viral origin," explained the regional health agency of Nouvelle-Aquitaine after learning the results of the tests. Thus, the prohibition of disembarkation and the isolation of infected individuals will be maintained until they recover from the illness.
The cruise ship, named Ambition, arrived in Bordeaux from the Shetland Islands, in Scotland, after calling at Belfast (Ireland), Liverpool (United Kingdom) and Brest (France). Before knowing the test results, health authorities had already ruled out that the source was caused by a norovirus – quite common behind most viral gastroenteritis –, and at all times have disassociated it from the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius. "There is no reason to link this outbreak [...] with the hantavirus cases," health authorities stressed.
At least fifty people have presented with vomiting and diarrhea. These passengers were immediately attended to by the ship's doctor and isolated in their cabins. This morning, a French medical team boarded to assess the health situation and take samples, which are being analyzed to "precisely identify the responsible pathogen, assess the risks of transmission, and take appropriate measures".