Virus Outbreak Traps More Than 1,700 Passengers on Cruise Ship in France

By: Shawn
‎French authorities have ordered more than 1,700 people to remain aboard a cruise ship in Bordeaux following the death of a passenger linked to suspected norovirus.
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‎The Ambassador Cruise Line vessel reached the French port city on Tuesday, but passengers and crew were not allowed to disembark after dozens of people onboard began experiencing symptoms consistent with the highly contagious stomach virus.
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‎A cruise ship in Bordeaux remains under quarantine after a suspected norovirus death and dozens of illness cases onboard.
‎UGO AMEZ/SIPA/Shutterstock
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‎Officials said around 50 individuals showed signs of norovirus infection, including diarrhea and vomiting. The passenger who died was a 90-year-old traveler aboard the ship.
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‎The cruise, carrying mostly British and Irish tourists, had departed from the Shetland Islands on May 6.
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‎The latest outbreak at sea comes shortly after another serious health incident involving the MV Hondius. Passengers stranded aboard that vessel were recently evacuated after a hantavirus outbreak killed three people and sickened several others.
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‎According to health officials, there have now been 11 reported hantavirus cases connected to the outbreak, with nine infections confirmed.
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‎One French woman infected during the outbreak remains in critical condition at a Paris hospital after suffering severe lung and heart complications caused by the disease.
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‎Dr Xavier Lescure of Bichat Hospital explained that the woman is currently relying on a life-support system that oxygenates blood through an artificial lung before pumping it back into the body.
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‎He described the machine as “the final stage of supportive care.”
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‎World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said both confirmed and suspected cases have so far been identified only among the cruise ship’s passengers and crew members.
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‎“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” he said.
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‎“But of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”

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