Vomiting virus ship calls off its cruise as toll hits 380

Published on Tuesday 7 July 2009 22:04

A SHIP at the centre of a vomiting virus outbreak is to cut short its voyage in the Scottish port where it is berthed, its operators said last night.

Hundreds of passengers and crew on the Marco Polo, which is in Invergordon, Easter Ross, have shown symptoms of norovirus and are being treated on board.

Five others have been treated in hospital after falling ill on the ship, while a sixth person was airlifted to hospital after developing a medical condition unrelated to the suspected norovirus outbreak.

Passenger Roy Sillett, 74, a retired man from Norwich, died yesterday of an apparent heart attack said to be unrelated to the bug.

The ship's operator, Transocean Tours of Bremen, said the decision for the ship to terminate its ten-night cruise four days into the trip was taken in consultation with NHS Highland.

A spokeswoman said arrangements would be made for all passengers who wre fit to travel to disembark and go home at the "earliest opportunity", but she could not say how soon that might be.

Those passengers who doctors think should not travel will remain on board for continued nursing and will be sent home once fully recovered.

The Marco Polo left Tilbury in Essex on Saturday on a round-Britain cruise. About 380 people on board the ship are showing symptoms of the illness, NHS Highland said. The health board is awaiting test results to confirm whether the bug is the norovirus.

Those not showing symptoms were allowed to go ashore yesterday.