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Fred Olsen settles vomiting bug claims
Fred Olsen has agreed to pay £280,000 to 130 passengers who caught a vomiting bug on one of its cruise ships.
They all came down with norovirus, a gastric virus also known as the winter vomiting bug, while holidaying on the Boudicca on several cruises between October 2009 and May 2010.
Their symptoms included diarrhea, vomiting and severe stomach cramps.
Fred Olsen told the BBC all its ships met the highest standards of health, safety and hygiene at all times and it has not admitted liability for the illnesses onboard its ship.
A spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately, from October 2009 to May 2010, there was a higher incidence than usual of gastric illness, also known as norovirus or winter vomiting virus, within communities in the United Kingdom, which is commonly identifiable in areas where people reside in close proximity.
"Most people do not report incidences but on a cruise ship, where movement is restricted, cases are particularly highlighted.
"The health, safety and well-being of all our guests and crew remains our utmost priority at all times, and we believe that our systems for preventing the spread of illness on board our ships are amongst the best within the industry."
The passengers were represented by law firm Irwin Mitchell, which has been investigating several alleged outbreaks of illnesses on the Boudicca spread over a five-year period from 2008, including three in March, April and May last year.
The law firm said it will continue to pursue claims for passengers who allegedly suffered illnesses onboard cruises in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Clare Pearson of Irwin Mitchell said: "We are now keen to work with Fred Olsen to bring to a prompt conclusion the claims we are pursuing for passengers who took cruises in more recent years.
"For our clients this is about more than money, this is about ensuring that they get answers in relation to what they have been through and reassurances that the cruise industry is doing everything it can to ensure the same problems do not continue to occur."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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