VENTURA

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Norovirus outbreak on cruise to Canaries

There was an outbreak of norovirus aboard the 'Ventura', and port health officials met the vessel for an inspection after it docked in Southampton on June 29, 2024, at 6 a.m. UTC. Just under 3,000 passengers disembarked after a two-week voyage around the Canary Islands, during which there were constantly areas blocked off because people had been vomiting all over the hallways. On June 28, P&O said that 0.64 % of the people on board had symptoms of norovirus after sanitation measures had been put in place. The company not provide a total number of cases reported since the start of the outbreak. Enhanced sanitation protocols had been put in place on board following the outbreak. Unwell passengers had also been asked to isolate for longer, according to Southampton Port Health Authority (SPHA). New passengers were being contacted in advance to make sure those with symptoms did not get on the ship. In addition, boarding has been delayed by four hours to allow for a deep clean of guest cabins, public areas and crew areas. Commercial cleaners sanitised the ship before new passengers were allowed on board, using fogging, which involves spraying special disinfectant into a sealed room as a mist-type vapour. The 'Ventura' was then checked by a port health officer.The ship left the port again at 9.10 p.m. en route to Santander as the first port of call of a seven-night cruise to Spain and Portugal.

Cruise ship deep cleaned in Southampton

The 'Ventura' was met at the port of Southampton after its return on May 25 at 6 a.m. for a deep cleaning after an unconfirmed number of passengers fell ill with sickness and diarrhoea onboard during the 14-night voyage around the Canary Islands which had included stops in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. 0.64 per cent of passengers were symptomatic on May 22, and those who were still symptomatic on arrival, disembarked later than other passengers. An enhanced sanitation of the ship was carried out on May 17 in Tenerife, however Southampton Port Health Authority assisted the vessel once it was back at port, undertaking a cleaning programme of all spaces onboard. The P&O Cruises vessel was scheduled to set sail for a seven-night cruise around Spain and Portugal later in the day, which was delayed to 11 p.m. Passengers booked on the week-long voyage have been asked to arrive four hours later than planned to make time for sanitation.

Nearly 250 passengers affected by gastro illness

Nearly 250 passengers were affected by gatro illness aboard the 'Ventura' off the Canary Islands. Although health measures have been taken to stem the gastroenteritis pandemic, some vacationers have had to isolate themselves in their cabins. Nearly 3,000 passengers and 1,200 crew members were on board the cruise ship. To contain the disease, vacationers had to follow strict health protocols The 'Ventura' had left the port of Southampton, UK, on May 11 for a 14-day cruise around the Spanish islands. During the last four days, things have gotten complicated. Enhanced disinfection has taken place at the port of Tenerife. The measures put in place involved the closure of on-board laundries and a ban on serving passengers at buffets. There would have been 150 of them isolating themselves in their cabin. Staff brought them food and bottles of water during her isolation. The testimonies collected from passengers seem to point towards a virus present on board before their boarding.