France confines more than 1,700 people to cruise ship after suspected norovirus death
Source: The Guardian
French authorities have confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew members to a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after an outbreak of suspected norovirus, officials have said.
The vessel, Ambition, which is carrying 1,233 passengers, most of them British or Irish nationals, arrived in Bordeaux on Tuesday. One 90-year-old passenger had died and about 50 people had shown symptoms of the virus, French health officials said.
The operator, Ambassador Cruise Line, said the guest who died did not report any symptoms of gastrointestinal illness and the cause of death had yet to be established, pending a coroners full report.
The company confirmed there were 48 active gastrointestinal illness cases among the passengers and one among the crew on the vessel, which was on a 14-night cruise. It also said French shore authorities had instructed guests and crew members to remain onboard.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/13/france-confines-passengers-cruise-ship-norovirus-death-bordeaux
I found this on norovirus vs hantavirus
Norovirus and hantavirus are very different, despite both making headlines for outbreaks, particularly on cruise ships. The primary difference is that norovirus causes severe, short-term stomach illness, while hantavirus is a rare, life-threatening disease targeting the lungs or kidneys
ForgoTheConsequence
(5,209 posts)Ritabert
(2,598 posts)werdna
(1,250 posts)Norovirus infection can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea that start suddenly. Noroviruses are highly contagious. They commonly spread through food or water that is contaminated during preparation or through contaminated surfaces. Noroviruses can also spread through close contact with a person who has norovirus infection.
Norovirus infection occurs most frequently in closed and crowded environments. Examples include hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, schools and cruise ships.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/norovirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20355296
FakeNoose
(42,315 posts)This is not a good way to quarantine these people.
Farmer-Rick
(12,779 posts)Ships are giant petri dishes of germs and viruses.
It's not uncommon for flus and colds to get passed around when Navy ships deploy as everyone gets use to each others' germs. But at least, it use to be, in the Navy every one was fully vaccinated and cleaning was methodical. Not so sure that happens on cruise ships.
70sEraVet
(5,602 posts)is much lower than in the general American population.
I was one of those Navy squids who got the 16-shot air gun blast in my left shoulder!
yaesu
(9,447 posts)In the population spreading it before the first cruise ship announcement, especially after Nazi musk destroyed our early warning capabilities. I do think the above case is probably something else.
LeftInTX
(34,833 posts)Was the French port an excursion or final destination?
If it's the final destination, it really sucks that they are all confined on a poop-cruise...yuck...It has pay toilet in a diarrhea ward vibes...
If it's a "port of call", I wonder if this is routinely how this is handled? I kinda don't blame the port for not allowing them to disembark. They can simply go back to Ireland.
muriel_volestrangler
(106,548 posts)Starting from Belfast, then Liverpool, I'd guess it was heading for the Mediterranean, or possibly Atlantic islands like the Canaries or Azores.
Beringia
(5,609 posts)As of May 13, 2026, the Ambition cruise ship is docked in Bordeaux, France, acting as a port of call during a 14-night journey around Western France and Spain
LeftInTX
(34,833 posts)Turn the ship around or let it complete it's return journey (wherever it is in the itenary)