07 July 2009

Suspected virus outbreak on UK cruise

A man has died during a suspected outbreak of the norovirus on a Transocean Tours cruise in the Cromarty Firth, Scotland.

According to reports, around 150 people on board the Marco Polo are showing symptoms of the virus - sickness and abdominal cramps - and two are being treated in hospital.

A post mortem examination is due to be carried out after the death of a 74-year-old man.

It is believed he died of a heart attack but it has not yet been established whether he was suffering from the virus.

Transocean Tours said the death was unrelated and that the ship had been inspected by local health officials.

The cruise is touring the UK and Ireland, carrying 769 passengers and 340 crew.

It set sail from Tilbury on Saturday but has now been detained at Invergordon harbour.

A further statement from the cruise line is expected shortly.

By Bev Fearis

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• Great Headline!!
  
  

  You've managed to get a cruise, a death and a virus all in the same header and sub-heading. My initial reaction was swine flu and the tabloid press will be all over it with the subsequent bad press. However, read on and the poor gent has had a heart attack. For goodness sake, if even the travel media are using sensationalist headlines to stir up doubt and anxiety, what hope have we in these challenging trading condidtions times? Get a grip Bev.

  By Andrew Todd, Tuesday, July 7, 2009