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Probe into illness on cruise ship
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Health experts are trying to establish whether dozens of people taken ill on board a cruise ship are suffering from the norovirus.
Both passengers and crew are showing suspected symptoms of the vomiting bug on board the Transocean Tours-operated Marco Polo, which is berthed in Invergordon, Easter Ross.
A 74-year-old man suffered a fatal heart attack on board the ship on Monday, but his death was unrelated to the bug, the ship's operator said.
NHS Highland said the man, from England, had serious underlying health problems. A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish the exact cause of his death.
The BBC said the man was thought to be from Norwich.
Transocean Tours, of Bremen, said its medical team on board the ship was dealing with an unconfirmed virus that caused a form of gastroenteritis.
Those taken unwell on the ship were being treated by a team of GPs and local nurses, while two people had been taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment.
There are 769 passengers and 340 crew on board and those not showing symptoms were allowed to go ashore to sightsee on Monday.
The ship has not been detained or placed under quarantine but has remained in Invergordon to allow extra manpower to join the ship, Transocean Tours said.
There were conflicting reports over the number of passengers taken ill. The health board said that 150 people were unwell, while Transocean Tours said that 54 passengers and 21 crew were ill.
