Norovirus alarm on the MS Artania: 200 passengers ill!

Norovirus alarm on the MS Artania: 200 passengers ill!

Almost 200 passengers of the MS Arania cruise have become infected with the Norovirus. The outbreak occurred during a trip that leads from Bremerhaven to the Norwegian fjords. According to the Norwegian TV broadcaster NRK, a total of 1200 passengers are on board. At first, about 50 illnesses were reported, but the number rose quickly, so that a total of 197 people were affected by Wednesday, reports the community doctor of the Finnish island of Vestvågøy. An official confirmation of the outbreak came from the local authorities who carefully monitor the situation.

The MS Artania is not only a cruise ship, but also known from the ARD series "Crazy for the Sea". This shows the cult captain Morten Hansen and his team during their travels. Passengers have reported on the MS Artania Facebook page of the illnesses and confirmed the media reports. Some passengers have also made concerns that the necessary precautionary measures are not adequately observed.

medical measures on board

To meet the situation, an additional doctor and a nurse were sent to the port of Brønnøysund to support the medical team on board. The shipping company has announced that sick passengers are isolated and that nobody can go ashore to prevent the virus from being spread. Experts puzzle about the accumulation of the Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships and suspect that there is a new virus variant that has no basic immunity in the population.

The MS Arania will continue to drive to the North Cape region and plans to return to Bremerhaven on July 19. The health authorities and the Arctic Guide Service Lofoten AS are actively involved in coping with the situation to ensure the security of all passengers.