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Bug probe after man dies on liner | Bug probe after man dies on liner |
(10 minutes later) | |
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out on a man who died during a suspected outbreak of a virus on board a cruise liner in the Cromarty Firth. | A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out on a man who died during a suspected outbreak of a virus on board a cruise liner in the Cromarty Firth. |
Doctors have said about 150 people on board the Marco Polo are showing symptoms of the norovirus and two are being treated in hospital. | Doctors have said about 150 people on board the Marco Polo are showing symptoms of the norovirus and two are being treated in hospital. |
The 74-year-old man who died is thought to be from Norfolk. | The 74-year-old man who died is thought to be from Norfolk. |
He apparently suffered a heart attack but it is not yet clear whether he was suffering from the norovirus. | He apparently suffered a heart attack but it is not yet clear whether he was suffering from the norovirus. |
However, he was said to have been vomiting the previous night. | However, he was said to have been vomiting the previous night. |
The man died as the ship was docking in Invergordon on Monday morning. | The man died as the ship was docking in Invergordon on Monday morning. |
In a statement, cruise operators Transocean Tours said the man's death was unrelated to the virus outbreak, and that the ship had been inspected by local health officials. | In a statement, cruise operators Transocean Tours said the man's death was unrelated to the virus outbreak, and that the ship had been inspected by local health officials. |
It was kept very quiet. I think they should have notified us Rita JonesPrevious passenger | It was kept very quiet. I think they should have notified us Rita JonesPrevious passenger |
NHS Highland said a total of 150 people were suffering from sickness and abdominal cramps - symptoms of the virus which is also known as the winter vomiting bug and affects up to one million people in the UK every year. | |
Local GPs and community nurses have boarded the Marco Polo to assist the ship's doctor. | Local GPs and community nurses have boarded the Marco Polo to assist the ship's doctor. |
Two of the passengers are now being treated at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. | Two of the passengers are now being treated at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. |
It has emerged that passengers on the previous voyage of the Marco Polo who disembarked on Saturday were also struck with a sickness bug. | It has emerged that passengers on the previous voyage of the Marco Polo who disembarked on Saturday were also struck with a sickness bug. |
Rita Jones, from Walsall in the West Midlands, and her husband David took a cruise from Tilbury in London on 22 June. | Rita Jones, from Walsall in the West Midlands, and her husband David took a cruise from Tilbury in London on 22 June. |
Half way through the cruise people began to get sickness and diarrhoea, Mrs Jones said, with five out of the eight people on her table becoming unwell. | Half way through the cruise people began to get sickness and diarrhoea, Mrs Jones said, with five out of the eight people on her table becoming unwell. |
Mrs Jones and her husband got the bug just after the cruise. She said the illness was "absolutely horrendous". | Mrs Jones and her husband got the bug just after the cruise. She said the illness was "absolutely horrendous". |
Dr Ken Oates said the man who died had many underlying health problems | Dr Ken Oates said the man who died had many underlying health problems |
She said: "Half way through the cruise it docked at a port and I noticed an ambulance. | She said: "Half way through the cruise it docked at a port and I noticed an ambulance. |
"Someone said a passenger had this sickness virus. From then on, people seemed to be getting ill." | "Someone said a passenger had this sickness virus. From then on, people seemed to be getting ill." |
She added: "It was kept very quiet. I think they should have notified us. | She added: "It was kept very quiet. I think they should have notified us. |
"It has been horrendous, absolutely horrendous. We have never had anything like that before." | "It has been horrendous, absolutely horrendous. We have never had anything like that before." |
Mrs Jones said she was "gobsmacked" on realising that more people had become sick on the ship in a subsequent voyage. | Mrs Jones said she was "gobsmacked" on realising that more people had become sick on the ship in a subsequent voyage. |
She added: "I would have thought that if they were aware of problems maybe they should have delayed the sailing and given the ship a good clean or something." | She added: "I would have thought that if they were aware of problems maybe they should have delayed the sailing and given the ship a good clean or something." |
The Marco Polo is touring the UK and Ireland. | The Marco Polo is touring the UK and Ireland. |
It had sailed from Tilbury on Saturday but has now been detained at Invergordon harbour. | It had sailed from Tilbury on Saturday but has now been detained at Invergordon harbour. |
Invergordon councillor Maxine Smith criticised the way the situation had been handled, claiming that potentially infected passengers were allowed to wander through the town after the ship docked there. | Invergordon councillor Maxine Smith criticised the way the situation had been handled, claiming that potentially infected passengers were allowed to wander through the town after the ship docked there. |
She said there were reports of some passengers vomiting in the streets. | |
Although norovirus is fairly common its effects are magnified when outbreaks occur within enclosed spaces such as cruise liners. | Although norovirus is fairly common its effects are magnified when outbreaks occur within enclosed spaces such as cruise liners. |
It is not usually dangerous, but can prove serious when it hits the very old, the very young or people with underlying health problems. | It is not usually dangerous, but can prove serious when it hits the very old, the very young or people with underlying health problems. |
Are you on board the Marco Polo? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Are you on board the Marco Polo? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |