A TEAM of specialist cleaners boarded Southampton's world- famous liner, Queen Elizabeth 2 when the ship docked today after passengers and crew were hit by a stomach bug.
A total of 110 passengers and 16 crew suffered sickness and diarrhoea during a two-week voyage from South Africa during which the vessel called at the remote island of St Helena, the west African country of Senegal, the Canary Islands and Portugal.
QE2 was not expected to be delayed by the extra cleaning and was expected to sail on time this evening for a Christmas cruise and the start of her annual round-the-world voyage.
A spokesman for the owners, Cunard, stressed that the company's medical experts were convinced the 48-hour illness had nothing to do with the ship's food or water supply but was the result of a virus brought on board QE2 by one of the passengers.
"Everything points to viral gastro-enteritis which has been passed from person to person,'' said the Cunard spokesman today.
"As a precaution a team of experts are on QE2 carrying out heavy-duty cleaning."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article