A British cruise liner with nearly 3,000 people aboard was quarantined today by the Greek authorities over a stomach bug that has affected over 400 passengers.
Doctors boarded the cruise ship Aurorawhen it anchored off the Greek port of Piraeus today.
Greek officials said the ship was effectively in quarantine and no passengers or crew would be allowed to leave.
The 76,000 ton Aurorahas now sailedfor Gibraltar.
"Four hundred and thirty people on board the Aurora are having severe stomach problems," a Merchant Marine Ministry spokeswoman said. The Aurora'sowners, P&O Cruises, said the bug was not serious.
Greek officials said the ship was carrying 1,900 tourists and 837 crew.
The Auroraleft Southampton on October 20th on a 17-day round trip. It is scheduled to continue its cruise to Gibraltar after taking on the supplies.
The P&O spokeswoman in London said the infection, identified by Greek officials as the Norwalk virus, was believed to have been brought on board by a passenger at Southampton.
"The symptoms are diarrhoea and vomiting. They last just 24 hours and there is a complete recovery," the spokeswoman said, adding not all 430 people had been affected at the same time.