Noro-Like Illness Strikes Ship, Affecting 20 Percent of Cruise Passengers.
A Norovirus-like outbreak on Fred. Olsen's Boudicca left a reported 170 of its 1,176 people (828 passengers, 348 crew) ill over the course of a 13-night cruise.
The report from United Kingdom's Daily Mail says the ship was greeted by National Health Service (NHS) staff and ambulance crews on Sunday (20/05/12) in Greenock, Scotland, where it concluded a Canary Islands and Portugal cruise.
Boudicca underwent an intensive fumigation Sunday before embarking on its next scheduled voyage (a 21-night Adriatic cruise) 90 minutes later than scheduled. The deep cleaning was overseen by local health authorities, including Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS.
In a statement, Fred. Olsen stated that no more than 35 people were "in isolation at any one time."
Still, according to the report by Scotland's Daily Record, an unnamed female passenger said "passengers were offered £150 discounts on their next cruise."
In spring 2010, the line cut short a cruise on Boudicca because of a suspected Norovirus outbreak, even though only six passengers remained in isolation at the time of the decision to do so.
Norovirus is the second most common illness next to the common cold and is highly contagious, spreading easily in confined spaces like hospitals, hotels, dormitories and cruise ships. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, and millions are infected each year.
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