According to French health authorities, approximately 80 people on the Ambassador Cruise Line ship Ambition experienced symptoms "resembling an acute gastrointestinal infection." On the evening of May 13th, officials officially confirmed the cause was norovirus gastroenteritis – a highly contagious virus that typically causes diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, and fever.
According to the cruise line, cases began appearing shortly after the ship left Belfast on May 8th. By the second day of the voyage, after stopping in Liverpool to pick up more passengers, the medical team noted a rapid increase in the number of people exhibiting gastrointestinal symptoms.
Those who contracted the illness were treated and instructed to self-isolate in their cabins to minimize the risk of spreading the disease.
The ship, carrying more than 1,700 passengers and crew members, docked in Bordeaux yesterday morning (French time) but was ordered to remain on board for medical checks. A team of experts was sent aboard to collect samples for testing and send them to the infectious diseases department of the University Hospital of Bordeaux for analysis.
While the ship was detained in Bordeaux, local authorities minimized contact between passengers and the port area as a precautionary measure. A 92-year-old British passenger died on board on May 12, but health authorities determined the cause of death was cardiac arrest and unrelated to the norovirus outbreak.
After hours of inspection and assessment, French authorities allowed the ship to continue its journey to Santander, Spain – the next stop on its two-week voyage through England, France, and Spain. However, quarantine measures remained in place for passengers still exhibiting symptoms.
French officials also stated that there was no evidence to suggest the incident was related to the deadly hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius off the coast of the Canary Islands in recent days.
Health experts say cruise ships are particularly conducive to the spread of norovirus due to the large number of people concentrated in enclosed spaces, sharing dining and living areas for extended periods.
In recent years, numerous norovirus outbreaks have been reported on international cruise ships. Just last week, 115 people fell ill on a Princess Cruises ship. In March, nearly 200 others were also infected on another ship operated by the same company.
According to statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2025 there were more than 2,200 cases in 18 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that lives in the stomach and intestines. It spreads easily through direct or indirect contact with an infected person. In particular, the virus spreads rapidly in enclosed spaces such as hospitals, schools, and healthcare facilities.
Norovirus can also be a source of food poisoning due to consuming contaminated food. There are many different strains of norovirus, so a person can get sick multiple times.
There is currently no specific treatment for norovirus. However, most patients can recover within a few days with proper rest, hydration, and medical monitoring.
Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/lai-bung-phat-dich-benh-บน-tau-du-lich-10417229.html
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