French authorities have confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew on a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after an elderly passenger died, said officials, who played down any links to the hantavirus scare.
Dozens also suffered from upset stomachs aboard the Ambition, most of whose 1,233 passengers are from Ireland and Britain, which arrived in the western port of Bordeaux yesterday, having stopped in Belfast last week, with 514 Indian crew members also on board.
But health officials said there was no connection with the hantavirus outbreak suspected of killing three passengers on the Dutch MV Hondius cruise ship, which had set sail from Argentina.
One 90-year-old passenger on the Ambition, run by the Ambassador Cruise Line company, had died and about 50 people have shown symptoms of stomach issues, the officials said.
Initial tests ruled out an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious form of gastroenteritis which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, but secondary tests were still underway, they added.
Food poisoning had not been excluded.
Passengers on board the Ambition showed peak symptoms on Monday when the ship was docked in Brest, the officials said, with cases having risen after it left Liverpool.
The 90-year-old died before they arrived at the port in France's northwestern Brittany region.
A statement from Ambassador Cruise Line to RTÉ News said that "enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols were immediately implemented across the ship in line with established public health procedures following the initial reports of illness.
"The comprehensive health and safety measures introduced include increased cleaning and disinfection measures in public areas, assisted service in selected dining venues and ongoing guidance to guests regarding hand hygiene, including regular hand washing, use of hand sanitisers and the prompt reporting of any symptoms to the onboard medical team.
"Any guests or crew presenting symptoms are being supported by the ship's medical staff and isolated as appropriate in accordance with EU SHIPSHAN public health protocols. Medical consultations relating to GII are being provided free of charge."
The ship, which left the Shetland Islands north of Scotland on 6 May, stopped in Belfast and Liverpool before reaching Bordeaux, from where it was scheduled to depart for Spain.
No security measures were in place around the ship as it is docked in Bordeaux, and passengers were taking pictures of the French city from the deck.
Ambassador Cruise Line said that "a specialist medical team and our sanitation consultants have also been dispatched to the vessel to support the onboard medical team.
"While on board, the specialist medical team collected existing samples for laboratory testing at Bordeaux University Hospital, with results requiring a minimum of six hours to be processed.
"While the investigation and testing are ongoing, all guests and crew have been instructed to remain onboard under the direction of the local shore authorities. Once clearance is granted, guests will be permitted to disembark."
