MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Possible first death of Norovirus on cruise vessel

Over 150 of the 800 passengers of Marco Polo have been taken ill.

A man has died and more than 150 people have taken ill on board a cruise liner berthed in Invergordon, Easter Ross, Scotland. The vomiting bug, norovirus, is thought to have taken hold on the Marco Polo, which is touring the UK and Ireland with about 800 passengers and 350 crew members.

On Monday an elderly man, thought to be from Norwich, died on the liner, which is operated by Transocean Cruises. NHS Highland said tests were under way to establish whether the outbreak has been caused by norovirus.

The health board said the man who died had a serious underlying medical condition and that a post-mortem would be carried out to identify the cause of death.

Two people have also been admitted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, while other affected passengers are being treated on board the ship. It had sailed from Tilbury in London on Sunday but has now been detained in Invergordon harbour for the time being.

Dr Ken Oates, from NHS Highland, said: “An elderly passenger died onboard the ship early on Monday morning.

”That evening, two people were admitted to Raigmore Hospital who are showing symptoms of norovirus.

“A team of GPs and local nurses are onboard the ship to assist those who feel unwell.

”NHS Highland is reassuring people that there is no risk to the health of the local community.“

However, Invergordon councillor, Maxine Smith, criticised the fact that potentially infected passengers were allowed to wander through the town on Monday after the ship docked there.

”There doesn't seem to have been any protocols in place, there was no information,“ she said.

”We have shopkeepers, businesses and people whom have come into contact with cruise passengers who are all worried that they have come into contact with someone who has potentially has the virus.

“The whole thing has been handled really badly.”

Although norovirus is fairly common its effects are magnified when outbreaks occur within enclosed spaces such as cruise liners.

The winter vomiting bug is not usually dangerous, but can prove serious when it hits the very old, the very young or people with underlying health problems.

But most people make a full recovery within one to two days.