More than 1700 passengers were confined on Wednesday aboard a cruise ship in Bordeaux, southwestern France, after a passenger passed away and dozens of others were seen developing symptoms linked to a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak, as confirmed by French media reports.
As per data provided last night by the ship's captain, up to nearly 50 passengers were said to be experiencing symptoms that were consistent with an acute digestive infection. Now, authorities suspect Norovirus to be the cause.
The same passengers were rushed immediately by the ship's doctor and isolated in their cabins.
The cruise ship Ambition, part of the Ambassador Cruise Line firm, left the Shetland islands of Scotland on May 6 and stopped in Belfast in Northern Ireland and Liverpool in England, before reaching Bordeaux.
The regional health agency mentioned more about how the medical team has now been dispatched on board to carry out a health situation assessment and samples are now being collected by the infectious disease department of the university hospital.