French authorities have allowed asymptomatic passengers to leave a British cruise ship following a gastrointestinal virus outbreak, ruling out any connection with the hantavirus case.
French authorities have lifted the lockdown on the Ambition cruise ship in Bordeaux after an outbreak of gastrointestinal symptoms was traced back to a viral infection. The decision comes as officials insist there is no link between this incident and the recent hantavirus deaths reported on another Dutch-flagged cruise ship, MV Hondius.
The local government and regional health agency around 80 people aboard the Ambition had reported symptoms consistent with an acute digestive infection. Testing confirmed these cases were caused by a viral gastro-intestinal infection, though no severe cases were identified. Asymptomatic individuals are now free to disembark, while those infected remain in isolation on board.
Health authorities clarified that the death of a 92-year-old British passenger aboard the ship was unrelated to the gastrointestinal outbreak. They emphasized that there had been no link established between the two incidents and assured the public that international conventions were followed regarding the handling of the deceased individual's body.
Passengers on the Ambition, operated by the UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line, have been under a lockdown since Monday. The ship initially arrived in Bordeaux with 1,233 passengers from Britain and Ireland, along with 514 crew members. As of Wednesday, restrictions were lifted for those who tested negative and showed no symptoms.
One passenger, Seos Guilidhe, shared his experience on Facebook: "We are allowed off the ship, restrictions lifted." He described the situation as not as severe as during previous lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic but passengers were still following extra sanitation guidelines. Guilidhe added, "We are playing bingo and taking pictures of Bordeaux from the deck."
While some passengers expressed relief at being able to disembark, others faced challenges with their conditions. An infected passenger posted on Facebook: "Two of us in one cabin with the bug is a challenge." Despite these difficulties, the overall mood among those allowed off was positive, as they resumed normal activities and enjoyed views of the French city.
The Ambition left the Shetland Islands on May 6, stopping at Belfast and Liverpool before arriving in Bordeaux. Initially scheduled to depart for Spain on May 22, the ship's departure has been delayed due to ongoing health concerns among passengers. The cruise line company reported an increase in illness cases after guests boarded in Liverpool on Saturday.
As authorities continue monitoring the situation, they stress that no connection exists between the Ambition incident and the hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius. Passengers are advised to maintain strict hygiene practices as they disembark and return home.
