France stops 1,700 passengers from disembarking cruise ship after suspected outbreak

Passengers and crew aboard a cruise ship in Bordeaux, southwest France, were prevented from disembarking on Wednesday following a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak that has reportedly led to one death.

Local authorities imposed the temporary ban as a precautionary measure after dozens of possible cases were identified on the vessel.

The ship, named Ambition and operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, arrived from Belfast and Liverpool with 1,700 people on board.

French media, including BFM TV, reported the fatality. Officials stated that the disembarkation ban would remain in place pending the outcome of medical tests.

The regional health authority clarified that there is no connection between this suspected stomach flu outbreak and a hantavirus cluster previously reported on the luxury Hondius ship.

Gastroenteritis, commonly known as stomach flu, is highly contagious with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea, but typically has no major consequences, though dehydration can occur.

This contrasts sharply with hantavirus, which carries a high lethality rate but rarely transmits between people.

Ambassador Cruise Line confirmed in a Facebook post that "enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols had immediately been implemented" on the Ambition. The company added: "Once clearance is granted, guests will be permitted to disembark."

Gastrointestinal illnesses are not uncommon on cruise ships. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already documented four outbreaks this year, including two of E.coli and two of norovirus.