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Hyunsoo Leo Kim/AP

Hundreds struck down with vomiting illness on British cruise ship

316 guests and crew members have contracted the tummy bug since the ship set sail from the UK on 16 April.

HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS on board a British cruise ship have been struck down with vomiting illness since it set sail on a five-week cruise last month.

So far, 316 guests and crew members have caught a “highly contagious” gastric bug on board the Balmoral cruise ship, which set sail from Southampton in the UK on 16 April, a spokeswoman for the cruise operator, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, told TheJournal.ie.

Sixteen people are currently struck down with the bug on board the Balmoral, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, the spokeswoman said.

Thousands on board

There are 1,434 guests and crew on board the Balmoral, which is on a 34-night ‘Old England to New England’ cruise. It recently left the US and is due to arrive in New Brunswick, Canada, later today.

Balmoral---banner_original

Most of the passengers on board are British.

In a statement, Fred Olsen said the cruise was continuing as planned and the ship had not been quarantined in any port on this cruise.

It is believed that the highly-contagious gastric illness was brought onto the ship, and is spread by person-to-person – or surface-to-surface – contact.
Fred Olsen has been undertaking extensive sanitisation measures and cleaning of the ship, following the company’s strict illness containment and prevention plan.

Those affected have been asked to remain in their cabins and have been provided with complimentary room service and in-room entertainment.

Investigations are continuing to ascertain whether the bug is Norovirus, the spokeswoman said.

Norovirus

Last year, Fred Olsen was forced to cancel a cruise after an outbreak of Norovirus – also known as the winter vomiting bug – on board the same ship.

The operator said the Balmoral received a US public health score of 91% after undergoing inspections by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‎(CDC) and the US Coastguard.

“Fred Olsen’s cruise ships meet, at all times, the highest safety, hygiene and health standards, and comply fully with the strict requirements and inspections of their Flag State, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and other relevant authorities,” the statement said.

Fred Olsen is co-operating fully with all the necessary maritime agencies and authorities and will continue to make e‎very effort
possible to ensure the safety and well-being of all its guests and crew on board, which is of paramount ‎importance.

Read: These five mega cruise ships are set to visit Ireland

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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    May 9th 2016, 4:53 PM

    Nothing worse than being afraid to Fart

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    Mute Bull Mick
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    May 9th 2016, 5:14 PM

    It’s called a shart.

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    Mute Carolyn Heffernan
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    May 9th 2016, 9:10 PM

    Poor devils

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    Mute james Goodyear
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    May 9th 2016, 4:45 PM

    Brings a new meaning to a poop deck.

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    Mute Patrick Ralf
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    May 9th 2016, 5:12 PM

    Pukeymacpukeface

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    Mute Vinny O Connor
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    May 9th 2016, 5:30 PM

    The first time a cruise ship left skid marks behind

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    Mute Dj
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    May 9th 2016, 5:44 PM

    Some poor sod is on the honeymoon now while his wife is probably on the bog all day.

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    Mute Rob Morgan
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    May 9th 2016, 6:22 PM

    Hate when adults say “Tummy”. Just sounds ridiculous.

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    Mute William Bayle
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    May 9th 2016, 5:36 PM

    “In room entertainment ” I d love to know more about that

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    Mute carl rice
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    May 9th 2016, 4:49 PM

    Sound like a Cruise from Smell!!

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    Mute Dessie Curley
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    May 9th 2016, 4:46 PM

    I’m sick for them

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    Mute Robert Conneely
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    May 9th 2016, 5:58 PM

    The “Queen Elizabeth” pulled into Limassol last week with the same problem

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    Mute EdmundOrlando
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    May 9th 2016, 9:35 PM

    A 34 night cruise! That’s mental.

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    Mute Leo Lowe
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    May 9th 2016, 5:00 PM

    The MV Balmoral’s flag state is Bahamian.

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    May 9th 2016, 5:17 PM

    The vomit is multi-national tho’.

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    Mute Carolyn Heffernan
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    May 9th 2016, 9:14 PM

    Poor devils their holiday ruined

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    Mute Danny O' Mahony
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    May 10th 2016, 10:49 AM

    ‘In room’ entertainment? They won’t be playing cards anyway cos the captain is on the deck!

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