Cruise Ship Stranded in Bordeaux Due to Stomach Flu Outbreak

A cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 passengers, the majority of whom are British, found itself stranded in Bordeaux on Wednesday following a stomach flu outbreak during its journey.

On May 11, one passenger, a 92-year-old Briton, passed away due to cardiac arrest while the ship was docked in Brest, Brittany. The local French authority noted that this death was unrelated to the gastrointestinal outbreak. Notably, officials emphasized no link between this incident and a hantavirus cluster on another vessel, the MV Hondius, which previously sailed between Argentina and the Canary Islands.

Despite the outbreak, French authorities permitted some passengers to disembark from the 'Ambition,' operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, as long as they adhered to health precautions such as regular handwashing. The ship was carrying 1,233 passengers, mostly British or Irish, along with 514 crew members. A lone French national was also aboard. Passengers exhibiting symptoms are receiving treatment on the ship and have been advised to self-isolate, according to local health officials.

(With inputs from agencies.)