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Norovirus outbreak hit cruise ship

A suspected norovirus outbreak has hit the 'Iona', wich is currently sailing off the coast of Belgium. It has seen a significant rise in passengers and crew members displaying symptoms such as vomiting in restaurants, on decks, and outside cabins. The ship is on a week-long Northern European cruise, visiting Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Zeebrugge. It departed from Southampton on Feb 15, 2025. Less than 1% of passengers were affected. On Feb 20, the ship's captain addressed passengers, announcing that measures were being taken to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread. Some quarantined guests complained that staff shortages had made it difficult to receive food deliveries, fresh towels, and clean bed linen.

Medevac in Funchal

A crew member of British nationality, aged 60, who showed symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), was medevaced from the 'Iona' in the morning of March 20, 2024. The ship was sailing 163 nautical miles northwest of Madeira, when the alert was received at the MRSC Funchal, at around 6:28 a.m. The Urgent Patients Guidance Center Mar (CODU-Mar) was then contacted, which, through the information that pointed to signs stroke considered the need for immediate medevac. The Portuguese Navy coordinated the operation through the MRSC Funchal and in collaboration with the Guidance for Urgent Patients – Seafarers (CODU-MAR) and with the Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC IP-RAM). After the alert, the ship moved to the port of Funchal, where the crew member disembarked at 4:25 a.m., and was transported to a hospital unit with the support of agents from the Local Command of the Maritime Police and the ambulance from the Maritime Association. Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters who were already on site.​

Cruise ship diverted because of shipwreck

The 'Iona', en route from Southampton, UK, was diverted from Hamburg to Bremerhaven at short terms on Feb 12. The ship was expected at the Cruise Gate Hamburg at Steinwerder, but due to a shipwreck in the port, the plans wree changed. However, the cruise ship would not have had to pass the sinking site which was much more to the south of the port. The Cruise Center did not respond to enquiries, but further calls of the ship did not seem to be threatened. The 'Iona' was still berthed at the Columbus Quay in Bremerhaven as of Feb 13 with an ETA at the next port of call, Rotterdam, as of Feb 14.