At least five Britons are among six cruise ship passengers admitted to hospital in Sweden after showing symptoms of Legionnaires' disease.
At least five Britons are among six cruise ship passengers admitted to hospital in Sweden after showing symptoms of Legionnaires' disease.
A spokeswoman for cruise operator Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said the group of elderly holidaymakers had "pneumonia-like symptoms".
A spokeswoman for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said they showed "pneumonia-like symptoms". They were expected to be in a Stockholm hospital for a few days.
The passengers from the Black Watch ship would be in hospital for the next few days, she told Reuters news agency.
The hospital is awaiting test results and it would be wrong to give the illness a name at this stage, she said.
Water tests are being carried out to find the source of the illness.
The Black Watch ship was returning to the UK early as a precaution, she said.
Company spokeswoman Wendy Hooper-Greenhill told the AFP news agency: "Six passengers have been hospitalised in Stockholm."
Company spokeswoman Wendy Hooper-Greenhill added: "It is important to remember that we do not know what the infection is, nor do we know how it was contracted."
At the moment, not only is the infection a bit of a mystery but how it was contracted is as well Wendy Hooper-GreenhillSpokeswoman for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
One of the six passengers, who include five women and one man, had an address in Portugal but could also be from Britain, she said.
Swedish officials had taken samples of water from on board the ship, which was carrying 756 passengers and crew members, to determine if the holidaymakers had caught the illness on board, she said.
The Black Watch is due to arrive back in Britain on Monday.
It was not clear whether the disease was Legionnaires', but the ship was to be deep-cleaned after all passengers had been disembarked, she added.
The liner set sail from Dover for a 17-day trip to the Baltic almost two weeks ago. It had been due to return on Wednesday when it is due to leave on another trip.
"At the moment, not only is the infection a bit of a mystery but how it was contracted is as well," she told Reuters news agency.
'Thorough disinfection'
Good co-operation
Ms Hooper Greenhill said it was returning two days early as a "precautionary measure".
Jerker Jonsson, a Stockholm region infectious disease specialist, told AFP that the group was in a "stable condition".
Swedish officials have taken samples of water from on board the ship, which was carrying 756 passengers and crew members, to determine if the holidaymakers had caught the illness on board.
It was not clear whether the disease was Legionnaires', but the ship was to be deep-cleaned after all passengers had disembarked.
"If we get the ship back, we can get all the passengers and people off which will allow us to do a very thorough disinfection and cleansing," she said.
"We do this in any event but it means we can have her in port for 24-48 hours and do a really good disinfection and cleansing regime and if there is anything lurking, it will get whacked."
The company added in a statement: "Fred Olsen regards the health and safety of its passengers and crew as the highest priority and will take all steps necessary to eradicate all trace of the bacteria should it be found anywhere on the ship."
Jerker Jonsson, a Stockholm region infectious disease specialist, told AFP that the group of passengers was in a "stable condition".
But he added: "This is probably a case of Legionnaires' disease."
But he added: "This is probably a case of Legionnaires' disease."
Henrik Cars, port and traffic manager for Stockholm Ports, told BBC News 24 the cruise operators had co-operated well and they were now trying to confirm the source of the suspected outbreak.
"They will definitely try to find out where it comes from," he said.
Before arriving in Sweden, the ship had travelled to Estonia and Finland.
Before arriving in Sweden, the ship had travelled to Estonia and Finland.
It had also been scheduled to go to Denmark and Norway, but the company cancelled the last stops as a "precautionary measure".
The vessel has now left Stockholm with its remaining passengers and is due back in Dover on Wednesday.
Winter bug
Most of the passengers on board are believed to be British and Irish.
Last year, another Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship was hit twice within weeks by a winter virus.
Last year, another Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship was hit twice within weeks by a winter virus.
A quarter of the 400 passengers on board the Black Prince in July suffered from a vomiting bug similar to the Norovirus which hit 136 passengers on the vessel in June.
A quarter of the 400 passengers on board the Black Prince in July suffered from a vomiting bug similar to the Norovirus which hit 136 passengers on the vessel in June.
Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease are similar to a flu-like illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever, leading on to pneumonia.
Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease are similar to a flu-like illness with muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever, leading on to pneumonia.
It can be treated with antibiotics.
It can be treated with antibiotics.
Are you onboard the Black Watch? Do you have friends or family who're travelling on the ship and have they been affected?Please send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
Are you onboard the Black Watch? Do you have friends or family who're travelling on the ship and have they been affected?Please send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
