Cruise goes on despite vomiting bug

Published on Tuesday 8 September 2009 22:26

THE operators of a cruise liner visiting Scotland said it would continue its voyage despite nearly 80 passengers being struck by a vomiting bug.

The Balmoral was due to dock at Portree yesterday, but strong winds forced it to anchor at sea off the Skye port.

Operators Fred Olsen Cruises confirmed that 78 of the 1,280 passengers on board have a viral infection with mild gastroenteritis.

Of those, 72 have been kept in isolation in their cabins to avoid further spread of the suspected norovirus – also known as the winter vomiting bug.

The Balmoral left Dover on Saturday on a nine-day round-Britain cruise.

While off Peterhead, a passenger was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after suffering a stroke.

It visited Invergordon on Monday and was due to sail to Kirkwall before bad weather forced it to divert to Skye.

The ship is due at Tobermory in Mull this morning before it heads to Dublin, Falmouth and Jersey, and is due to return to Dover on 14 September.

A spokeswoman for the operators said all those who have taken ill have remained on board.

"As things stand, we plan to continue the cruise. Everyone on board is stepping up the hygiene and disinfecting regime. Port officials have been notified and told us they are fine with all the action being taken."

She said it is believed that the virus was introduced to the ship by a passenger who became unwell shortly after departing from Dover.

The spokeswoman added: "The winter vomiting virus is extremely common and ranks second to the common cold. The virus, which is highly infectious, causes unpleasant but generally short-lived infection lasting one to two days from which people will usually recover without treatment."

Helen Tissington, NHS Highland's senior health protection nurse specialist, said there were 20 suspected norovirus cases on the cruise liner when it left Invergordon.

She said staff from Highland Council's environmental health department visited the vessel. "We were satisfied that the ship had an appropriate management plan in place and all reasonable actions were being taken," said Ms Tissington.

In July, a round-Britain cruise had to be cancelled when more than 400 passengers and crew on board the Marco Polo were struck with the norovirus.

Six people were taken to hospital and passengers demanded a refund before leaving the ship which is operated by Transocean Tours of Bergen. More than 120 of the 769 passengers later travelled home by train.