Passengers have reported a suspected norovirus outbreak on a P&O cruise ship off the coast of Belgium.
One passenger on the P&O Iona told Sky News «people have been dropping like flies», with «a large number» of guests and staff experiencing symptoms.
«People [were] throwing up in restaurants, on decks, outside cabins,» the passenger said.
The P&O Iona, which can carry more than 5,000 passengers and 1,800 staff, is currently on a seven-day cruise across northern Europe, visiting Hamburg, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. The current passenger numbers are unclear.
P&O Cruises has confirmed to Sky News some of its guests «have unfortunately reported gastrointestinal symptoms,» however, they said it is currently affecting fewer than 1% of the passengers on board.
A large number of families are understood to be on the cruise, which is taking place during the half-term break. It left Southampton on 15 February.
The captain of the ship is understood to have made a public announcement on Thursday informing passengers of the outbreak, and said that staff were doing their best to stop the spread of infection.
Some passengers who are isolating have said staff shortages have resulted in problems with having food delivered, as well as receiving new towels and bed linen.
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The passenger added: «Even the entertainment has been adversely affected with many of the scheduled acts unable to perform and replaced with a cobbled together entertainment programme to placate the guests.
«What was also incredulous was the inability to buy or get hold of any medication onboard to help with the symptoms.»
P&O Cruises told Sky News any symptomatic guests who were unable to join shore experiences will receive a full refund.
They also said medication is «readily available through our onboard medical centre» and an emergency support number is available 24 hours a day.
«We are aware that some guests have unfortunately reported gastrointestinal symptoms recently on board Iona’s Northern Europe cruise,» P&O Cruises said in a statement.
«Gastrointestinal-related illnesses are very common in the UK and are predominantly spread by person-to-person transmission in environments such as hotels, schools and restaurants.
«P&O Cruises works with global, national and regional public health authorities on approved and proven protocols across our ships in order to protect the health and wellbeing of all on board.»
Passengers on the P&O Iona cruise ship have reported a suspected norovirus outbreak while off the coast of Belgium. According to one passenger who spoke to Sky News, there has been a significant number of guests and staff experiencing symptoms, with reports of people vomiting in various areas of the ship. The P&O Iona, which has a capacity of over 5,000 passengers and 1,800 staff, is currently on a seven-day cruise in northern Europe, with stops in Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Zeebrugge. While the exact number of current passengers is unknown, P&O Cruises has confirmed that fewer than 1% of passengers on board are affected by gastrointestinal symptoms.
The outbreak has impacted a large number of families on board, as the cruise coincides with the half-term break and departed from Southampton on February 15th. The captain of the ship reportedly made an announcement to inform passengers of the outbreak and reassured them that efforts were being made to prevent further spread of the infection. However, some passengers in isolation have raised concerns about staff shortages affecting the delivery of food, towels, and bed linen.
Additionally, there have been disruptions to the entertainment schedule, with some acts unable to perform and makeshift programming put in place to accommodate guests. One passenger highlighted the challenges of obtaining medication on board, stating that no shops or medical centers could provide gastrointestinal suspension medication or replacement salts/fluid sachets.
In response to the situation, P&O Cruises assured Sky News that any symptomatic guests unable to participate in shore experiences would receive a full refund. They emphasized that medication is readily available through the onboard medical center, and an emergency support number is accessible 24 hours a day. The cruise line acknowledged the reports of gastrointestinal symptoms among guests and underscored the common occurrence of such illnesses in the UK, often transmitted person-to-person in shared environments like hotels, schools, and restaurants.
P&O Cruises reiterated their commitment to working with public health authorities at global, national, and regional levels to implement approved protocols across their ships, prioritizing the health and well-being of all passengers and staff on board.
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