Currently, 3,000 people cannot leave the cruise ship “Norwegian Dawn” for the dream island of Mauritius. The reason: after a series of gastrointestinal illnesses, it is suspected that cholera may have broken out on board.
“As soon as we left Cape Town they knew there was a problem. The buffet was gone. We were served with gloves. There were rumors of gastroenteritis,” one man told dpa. “We wanted to leave for Reunion Island on Saturday. In the morning we were told that the ship would go to Mauritius instead. We were a little worried. Only very late was the suspicion of a cholera outbreak reported.”
Ministry of Health officials took samples from about 15 people on board on Sunday morning. The results of the study are expected on Tuesday. According to information from authorities, at least fourteen passengers and one crew member suffered from diarrhea and vomiting. They are isolated in their rooms.
Increased hygiene measures on board
In a letter dated Sunday and available to the German news agency, the captain informed passengers that they would not initially leave the ship in Port Louis. The shipping company offers its guests hotlines to clarify questions about rebooking the onward journey home. The guests stranded in Mauritius should be given free hotel stays. The shipping company announces that hygiene measures on board have been tightened and that all necessary measures are being taken to protect guests, crew and travel destinations.
According to the shipping company, the ‘Norwegian Dawn’, which was built in 2002 at Germany’s Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, Lower Saxony, has space for up to 2,340 guests and 1,032 crew members on board. She left South Africa on February 13 for her journey via Madagascar to Réunion Island and Mauritius. The ‘Norwegian Dawn’ would then return to South Africa with the new passengers.
On Friday, authorities on the French island of La Réunion refused to allow the ship to enter port due to gastrointestinal illnesses. Both the French government and the island’s regional health authority found the health situation on board the ship unsatisfactory.
One of the worst cholera outbreaks in years
Southern Africa has been struggling with one of the worst cholera outbreaks in years for months. By mid-January, approximately 200,000 cases of illness and more than 3,000 deaths had been reported in the thirteen affected countries. Mauritius was on high alert when cases occurred in the Comoros.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
