"Dropping like flies": Cruise passengers ravaged by severe virus

A dream holiday has turned into a floating nightmare for passengers onboard a P&O Cruise after the vessel was ravaged with a severe strain of novovirus. 

The luxury ship, Iona, was sailing through Northern Europe when the virus struck, affecting over 5000 guests and nearly 2000 staff onboard. 

Sky News UK reported that the onslaught of the virus has caused hundreds of passengers to fall ill with the company releasing statements providing updates as the situation grows worse aboard the ship.

The ship, which is currently located off shore near Belgium, is continuing on with the itinerary as planned, with staff attempting to isolate the affected passengers and restrict their movements both aboard the ship and land-based stopovers.

“People were throwing up in restaurants, on decks, outside cabins,” one of the passengers told Sky News. “A large number of guests and staff are experiencing the virus symptoms. They're dropping like flies."

Norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis and causes diarrhoea, vomiting, and severe stomach pain.

The symptoms usually develop 12 to 48 hours after being exposed and can take three days for a person to fully flush the virus from their system.

P&O Cruises confirmed that some guests have reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness but refused to provide an update on the health of cruise staffers.

“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,” a P&O spokesperson said.

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