Passengers Quarantined in Gatwick returning from MSC Preziosa

[jody75]

We were aboard the Virgin Atlantic / MSC charter flight VS610 returning from Barbados on the 6th March which was quarantined at Gatwick Airport on arrival. The plane carried 451 passengers from the MSC Preziosa, some had contracted a cough which is not unusual on a cruise in the winter season. Some reflected saying their cough was not that uncommon due their experience with hot/cold with air conditioning whilst others had obvious contracted a virus. About 20 people were currently affected and others had already had and were recovering from the coughing virus.

 

Aside from the passengers complaint 5 Virgin Atlantic Cabin staff had became ill with a gastro illness obviously unrelated to the MSC passenger and this was never mentioned on the plane by the Captain's announcements only that the whole problem was cruise ship related.  When in the holding are we were told by the medical team that the quarantine was due to the presence of suspected Norovirus. The Virgin staff were not quarantined with the MSC passengers and little or no  information was given to us of their whereabouts.  

 

Following the event we were eventually released 4 hours later to a turmoil of baggage reclaim with little or no help from Virgin Staff. The news report that followed the event implied that the problem lied at the door of MSC with no mention of the real cause of the problem - the  Norovrus contracted by the Virgin Crew.  

 

I hope that the stated review by the Gatwick Authorities of the events of the VS610 will identify the real culprits of the health hazard.

Edited March 7, 2019 by jody75
typo

[Bobal]

Thank you for posting this. There has been speculation and accusations in the press about this with the finger firmly pointed at MSC and the issue with coughs. I commented on another post that it would be impossible for crew to pick up a cough/cold virus within a plane journey so it appears the quarantine was due to a separate issue. Shame on Virgin/Gatwick for not coming clean and placing the blame with MSC. What a pity the press who reported this don't now publish what actually happened but, as they say, never let the facts get in the way of a good story 

Edited March 7, 2019 by Bobal

[EngIceDave]

Agreed, no way anything can incubate and come to full bloom that quickly

[mickey89]

We were also on the same flight, typical of the news media to get it wrong.  5 or 6 of the Virgin Cabin Staff were ill with suspected noro-virus which was confirmed by the ground medical staff. Quite a few of MSC passengers had a cough including myself, which started with a dry throat, not a big deal but others were quite rough. Virgin were a disgrace and are trying to blame others.