French authorities have taken action after an outbreak of gastroenteritis on a British cruise ship, the Ambition, where a 92-year-old man passed away. Passengers became ill with the stomach bug during a trip from Belfast and Liverpool to France and Spain. This incident follows a recent hantavirus outbreak on another cruise ship that led to three deaths and an international health alert. Despite the proximity of these events, officials have stated there is no direct connection between the two incidents.
The Ambition, on a two-week voyage from Belfast and Liverpool to ports in northern Spain and along France’s Atlantic coast, arrived in Bordeaux on Tuesday. The deceased passenger did not report symptoms consistent with the illness, and the cause of death is pending coroner investigation. The cruise operator reported 48 passengers and one crew member displaying gastrointestinal symptoms, with cases escalating after passengers boarded in Liverpool on May 9.
Authorities have halted disembarkation from the Ambition in Bordeaux and limited interactions with the port following recommendations from the regional health agency. Around 50 individuals on the ship exhibited symptoms of acute digestive infection and were isolated in their cabins as medical teams boarded the vessel. Symptoms of gastroenteritis include sudden diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. Samples from affected passengers are under examination at a Bordeaux hospital.
In a separate incident, the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius prompted global responses, resulting in hospitalizations in several countries. Three fatalities and nine confirmed cases have been reported, with two additional cases suspected.
