France Confines Over 1,700 Cruise Passengers After Gastroenteritis Outbreak On British Cruise Ship

French authorities temporarily stopped more than 1,700 passengers and crew members from leaving the British cruise ship Ambition after nearly 50 suspected gastroenteritis cases were reported onboard while the vessel was docked in Bordeaux.

The ship arrived in the southwestern French city on Tuesday evening carrying 1,233 passengers and 514 crew members.

Most passengers were British or Irish nationals, along with one French passenger. The vessel had departed from Belfast and Liverpool before reaching France as part of a 14-night cruise.

French health officials said around 50 people onboard showed symptoms linked to gastrointestinal illness, including vomiting and diarrhoea. Passengers with symptoms were examined by doctors and isolated in their cabins.

Ambassador Cruise Line confirmed that 48 passengers and one crew member were displaying symptoms as of Wednesday morning.

The company said figures showed cases increased after passengers boarded in Liverpool on Saturday.

Authorities suspended the planned disembarkation in Bordeaux while medical checks and laboratory testing were carried out. Samples collected onboard were sent to Bordeaux University Hospital for analysis.

French health authorities said there was no reason to connect the illness outbreak onboard Ambition with the recent hantavirus cases reported on the cruise vessel MV Hondius, which had travelled between Argentina and the Canary Islands.

Ambassador Cruise Line said enhanced cleaning and prevention measures were introduced immediately after the first illness cases were reported.

The company said extra disinfection procedures were carried out in public areas, assisted service was introduced in some dining venues, and passengers were repeatedly advised to maintain hand hygiene and report symptoms to the onboard medical team.

The cruise operator also said consultations linked to gastrointestinal illness were being provided free of charge.

All shore excursions planned in Bordeaux were cancelled and affected passengers were offered full refunds.

French authorities instructed all passengers and crew members to remain onboard while the investigation continued.

Ambassador Cruise Line said specialist medical teams and sanitation consultants had been sent to assist onboard operations.

A separate incident onboard involved the death of a 92-year-old British passenger during a stop in Brest in northwestern France.

Ambassador Cruise Line said the passenger suffered cardiac arrest and had not reported gastrointestinal symptoms. Authorities said there was currently no indication that the death was linked to the outbreak onboard.

Gastrointestinal illness outbreaks are relatively common on cruise ships because viruses can spread quickly in enclosed spaces with shared dining and accommodation areas.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported four cruise ship outbreaks so far this year, including cases linked to norovirus and E coli.

Health officials said gastroenteritis is usually not serious, although it can sometimes cause complications such as dehydration.

Authorities also stressed that the illness is very different from hantavirus, which has a higher fatality rate but rarely spreads between people.

Ambassador Cruise Line said passengers would be allowed to leave the vessel once clearance was given by French authorities following the completion of testing and health checks.

References: Al Jazeera, The Guardian