SOURCE: The Telegraph: Three people have been taken to hospital after a flight reserved for passengers on a cruise ship from Barbados was quarantined when passengers and crew became unwell.
All passengers and crew on a Virgin Atlantic flight were put into quarantine after landing at London Gatwick due to widespread sickness on board.
It was a charter flight carrying 448 holiday makers who were returning home after travelling on the cruise ship MSC Preziosa in the Caribbean.
They were taken to a reception centre at the West Sussex airport for medical assessment.
Passenger Trevor Wilson wrote on Twitter: “The illness seems to have originated on board ship not the plane. Five members of cabin crew became sick on flight.”
He added that the sickness was “mainly a bad chesty cough, possibly chest infection”.
The Airbus A330 aircraft was met by the emergency services following an eight-hour flight from Barbados, which landed at 5.25am on Wednesday.
An ambulance service spokesman told The Telegraph: “South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust was called to attend an in-bound flight at Gatwick at shortly before 5am today following reports of a number of passengers and crew feeling unwell and nauseous.
“We sent ambulance crews including our Hazardous Area Response Team and a number of other specialist paramedics to the scene.
“The crews have worked together on scene to assess and treat patients approximately 30 people, most of whom have been able to be discharged from scene with advice. Three patients are being taken to hospital for further checks.”
Sussex Police supported the paramedics and a spokesman said: “The aircraft was quarantined as a precaution, and all passengers and crew were escorted to a secure location, where they were checked over by the ambulance service.”
A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said: “A number of customers on board a charter flight from Barbados to London Gatwick this morning reported feeling unwell on board.
“The safety and well-being of our customers and crew is always our absolute priority, and local ambulance services attended the aircraft upon landing to provide medical assistance.
“We are working closely with London Gatwick Airport and medical teams to offer assistance to customers, and will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances.”
A spokesman for Swiss-based cruise line MSC Cruises, which operates MSC Preziosa, said: “We are still investigating what may have caused the illness and we are currently waiting for further updates from Gatwick Airport medical services.
“What we do know is that, on MSC Preziosa, no cases of acute gastroenteritis have been reported in the past 14 days.
Wow, a speedy recovery to all❤
Drew Sheppard
I also got sick on a cruise ship from NYC to the Caribbean. Got off in Bim went to a Doc. and got medication. Problem is , the Doc office on the ship only open for a shot time per day.
My worst cruise ever, plus more persons on the ship were sick. I do know the feeling and I wish you all a speedy recovery.
@ALEX ALLEYNE; you probably got sea sick.
Oh well
@T.SEEMS, NO , was told by the Doc it was an air borne virus.
Ya all go check out Travel.State.Gov on what they are saying about our Barbados.
We told you but all you do is talk. Now tourist $$$$$$ will be cut , that’s ok cos then we will get some action on removing the drugs & guns off the streets an bringing to justice some of the high fliers .
BARBADOS
03/05/2019
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/barbados-travel-advisory.html
Exercise normal precautions in Barbados.Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page. If you decide to travel to Barbados:
Do not travel to the following areas:
Crab Hill, St. Lucy
Ivy, St. Michael
Nelson Street, Bridgetown (at night)
Wellington Street, Bridgetown (at night)
Jolly Roger and Buccaneer Cruises (at night)
Maxwell Coast Road (at night)
Exercise increased caution in the following areas:
Black Rock
Deacons
Carrington Village
Green Fields
New Orleans
Pine
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on and .
Review the Crime and Safety Report for Barbados.
U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations.
This travel advisory could have been drawn up and adhered to, by many a Bajans,over the years.
NOW I HOPE THIS OPEN WANNA LAZY BAJANS EYES BACK HOME, wanna think TOURISM is the key to wanna problems, see how easy it is to SHUT DOWN BARBADOS, IF D TOURIST STOP COMING THEN WHAT KERRIE SYMONDS, ENGLAND CAN NOW COME UP WITH SOME BOGUS THING AND GET PPL FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO STOP FLYING TO BARBADOS, NOT SAYING THAT THIS ILLNESS THING WAS BOGUS, BUT WANNA CANT PUT ALL THE EGGS IN ONE BASKET, WANNA GOT SUGAR CANE HELP PLANT AND REAP IT, GET C O WILLIAMS PUT BACK SOME THE LAND IN SUGAR AND OTHER THINGS AND STOP LETTING HE AND OTHERS GROW GRASS FOR THEM COWS, THEM ARE THE ONLY ONES GETTING ANYTHING FROM IT, SELLING THE BEEF STRAIGHT FROM THEM SLAUGHTER HOUSE TO THE SUPERMARKETS AND HOTELS, OPEN WANNA EARS EYES AND SEE, CAUSE IF IT HAD TO HAPPEN MAY GOD HELP WANNA, CRIME GINE NOW GET OUTTA HAND, DONT FORGET TOURISM IS THE BLOOD OF BARBADOS RIGHT NOW, DONT LET IT BE SO, MAKE SURE WANNA GOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE BLOOD, AND YOU SEE THE USA NOW ISSUE A WARNING TO ITS PPL GOING TO BARBADOS, OH AND BARBADOS AINT A PART OF JAMAICA AS AMERICANS THINK,
Blame the DLP.
Aha ha JOHNNY CROW…you beat me to it…like ya getting some sense after all..it took you very long to realize every darn thing is due to that CROOKED DLP.