P&O cruise ship 'hit by norovirus outbreak' as passengers 'drop like flies'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A suspected norovirus outbreak has reportedly hit a P&O cruise ship, with passengers claiming that their fellow travellers are "dropping like flies" due to the spreading illness.

The P&O Iona, currently off the coast of Belgium, has seen a rise in passengers and crew members showing symptoms such as vomiting in restaurants, on decks, and outside cabins, according to one passenger's account to Sky News.The vessel, which can accommodate over 5,000 passengers and 1,800 crew members, is on a week-long Northern European cruise, stopping in Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Zeebrugge.

It departed from Southampton on February 15, carrying many families taking advantage of the half-term holiday.P&O Cruises confirmed to Sky News that some guests had reported gastrointestinal symptoms but insisted that less than 1% of passengers were affected.

On Thursday (February 20), the ship's captain addressed passengers, announcing that efforts were being made to contain the outbreak and stop its spread. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. However, some quarantined guests complained that staff shortages had made it difficult to receive food deliveries, fresh towels, and clean bed linen.