More than 2,000 passengers aboard a cruise ship in the Indian Ocean have been unable to disembark in Mauritius for days due to a suspected cholera outbreak on the ship.
Norwegian Dawn was due to arrive in Port Louis at 7 am on Sunday, February 25, after a 12-day voyage from Cape Town, the Independent reported. The stop at the previous island was canceled, and the ship arrived in Mauritius a day early. The ship is in the harbor, but passengers and crew cannot leave until doctors determine the cause of the outbreak of stomach illness on board.
“Staff from the Ministry of Health and Wellness this morning collected samples from 15 passengers on board the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship. These passengers were placed in isolation on board due to their medical conditions. The decision to not allow the cruise ship to dock was made to avoid any risks to “The health and safety of passengers, as well as the country as a whole, is of paramount importance to the authorities,” the Mauritius Ports Authority said.
The World Health Organization says South Africa is currently experiencing a cholera outbreak, with more than 300,000 cases recorded since the start of 2020, including 5,811 deaths.
“During Norwegian Dawn’s voyage to South Africa on 13 February 2024, a small number of guests experienced mild symptoms of stomach illness. Upon the ship’s return to Port Louis, Mauritius, the ship’s management met with local authorities to confirm that all necessary precautions and actions were being taken “To ensure the well-being of everyone on board. Due to additional testing required by local authorities before allowing entry, the Government of Mauritius has delayed disembarkation for the current cruise and embarkation for the next cruise,” Norwegian Cruise Line said.