Over 1,000 Passengers Held on UK Cruise Ship in France After 49 Fall Ill with Gastroenteritis

More than 1,000 passengers remain held on a UK-operated cruise ship in France after 49 people fell ill with gastroenteritis.

Local authorities in Bordeaux said three passengers had been isolated in their cabins on the Ambition, while other passengers will not be able to disembark in the port. They added that there was "no reason" to link the outbreak to the hantavirus outbreak on a separate cruise ship.

Ambassador Cruise Line told the BBC in a statement that "a number of guests and crew onboard Ambition have displayed or are displaying symptoms consistent with gastrointestinal illness." It said enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols had been implemented across the ship "in line with established public health procedures following the initial reports of illness."

The cruise line said that as of 11:00 BST on Wednesday, 48 passengers were displaying symptoms consistent with gastrointestinal illness, as well as one crew member. There are currently 1,187 guests and 514 crew members on board the ship, according to its operator.

The cruise ship set sail from Belfast on 8 May, before heading to Liverpool the next day.