A 90-year-old passenger has died and around 50 others are showing signs of illness following a suspected norovirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux, France.

The Ambassador Cruise Line vessel Ambition arrived in Bordeaux on Tuesday, May 12, carrying more than 1,700 passengers and crew members.

Following reports of illness on board, passengers and crew were instructed to remain on the ship while health authorities investigate the outbreak.

Passengers Isolated On Board

According to French health authority ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the ship’s captain reported that up to 50 passengers had developed symptoms consistent with an acute gastrointestinal infection.

Those affected were immediately isolated in their cabins and treated by the ship’s medical team.

Authorities have since deployed an additional medical team to the vessel to collect samples, identify the pathogen involved and assess the risk of transmission.

Most of the ship’s 1,233 passengers are reported to be from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Health Officials Monitor Situation

ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine said there is currently no indication that the outbreak is connected to the recent hantavirus cases linked to the expedition ship MV Hondius.

Health officials are advising passengers and crew to remain on board and minimise contact with the port area while investigations continue.

Cruise Itinerary Interrupted

The Ambition departed the Shetland Islands in Scotland on May 6 and had already visited Belfast, Liverpool and Brest before arriving in Bordeaux.

The vessel had been scheduled to continue onward to Spain before the outbreak was reported.

Norovirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus that commonly spreads in enclosed environments such as cruise ships, hotels and healthcare facilities.