P&O Cruises has confirmed that there are 10 people with symptoms of Norovirus onboard the Azura cruise ship this evening. It is due to return to Southampton tomorrow following an 11-night Iberia cruise, which departed December 4. There are 3,059 passengers on board.
There has been an incidence of a mild gastrointestinal illness among the passengers onAzura. This illness is suspected to be Norovirus, which is highly contagious and typically transmitted from person to person. Norovirus is common throughout the UK, Europe and North America and has affected a number of schools, hospitals, nursing homes and children’s day care centres.
– Spokesperson for P&O Cruises
Enhanced sanitation protocols have already been implemented to help minimize transmission to other passengers. These comprehensive disinfection protocols have been developed by P&O Cruises in conjunction with U.K. and U.S. public health authorities.
– Spokesperson for P&O Cruises
The safety and comfort of passengers and crew is always our number one priority. As is currently standard procedure across our fleet, all the ship’s passengers were provided with a precautionary health notice advising of widespread Norovirus activity and the health measures to avoid contraction and spread, both on board and whilst ashore.
Symptoms typically begin 24-48 hours after infection with the virus. Sudden onset of nausea is usually the first sign of infection, followed by vomiting and watery diarrhoea.
How do you catch Norovirus?
Through contact with an infected person, as well as contact with surfaces – such as door handles and tables – that are contaminated with the virus. It is also caught by consuming contaminated food or liquid.
How do you avoid catching Norovirus?
Wash your hands frequently and avoid raw and unwashed foods.
'Rigorous cleaning' on ship after Norovirus outbreak
The cruise ship the Oriana is undergoing 'rigorous cleaning' this lunch time - after more than 300 passengers were struck down in an outbreak of the contagious Norovirus. The liner docked at Southampton this morning - at the end of a 10-day cruise to the Baltic. Andrew Pate has more.
Passengers' tales of Norovirus outbreak on cruise ship
Passengers have been sharing their stories of what happened on board the Oriana cruise ship during a Norovirus outbreak on board. The liner docked in Southampton today, returning from a 10-day Baltic cruise. We caught up with some of the travellers as they left the cruise terminal.
P & O Cruises have confirmed that 300 of the 1,843 passengers on board caught the contagious Norovirus vomiting sickness.
In a letter given to passengers when they boarded the P&O cruise liner Oriana ten days ago, the medical team admits that some passengers on a previous sailing had suffered from norovirus symptoms.
P & O have confirmed 300 of the 1,800 passengers on board the Oriana cruise ship were affected by the vomiting bug norovirus. Passengers left the ship this morning after it arrived in Southampton after a tour of the Baltics. The cruise company had said only nine people fell ill.
Passengers disembark at the Mayflower Terminal Credit: ITV Meridian
Passengers have disembarked from the cruise ship Oriana after it returned to its home port of Southampton this morning. Some passengers on the liner contracted the Norovirus winter vomiting bug while on a ten day cruise to the Baltics. There have been claims that as many as 300 passengers fell ill.
Passengers return from a cruise to the Baltics Credit: ITV Meridian
The cruise ship Oriana has returned to its home port of Southampton. Some passengers on the liner contracted the Norovirus winter vomiting bug while on a ten day cruise to the Baltics.
While there have been claims that hundreds of passengers have been affected, on Thursday P&O Cruises which owns the liner said fewer than ten cases have actually been confirmed.
A spokeswoman for P&O Cruises said that six people on board have active symptoms today, but she was not able to confirm how many people have been affected in total.
Any medical charges incurred as a direct result of the outbreak will be covered by the company, the spokeswoman confirmed.
