Cruise ship banned from docking over fears of cholera outbreak on board
At least 15 people on the Norwegian ship are reported to be in isolation.
A cruise ship bound for Mauritius has been banned from docking over fears there could be an outbreak of cholera on board, it has been reported.
Over 2,000 passengers are currently stuck off the coast of East Africa, awaiting the result of testing which could result in them being allowed to continue their holiday, or could result in another 10 days of quarantine.
Dutch tourist Esther Verdaas said: ‘We are certainly not allowed to disembark until February 27.
‘But that could take longer. Because someone on board may have cholera and if the culture indeed shows that, another ten days could be added.’
She told BN DeStem that she and her family were on the trip for a sixtieth birthday celebration, but ithas turned into a miserable experience and ‘aimless floating on the open sea’.
The captain had told passengers over the tannoy that there was an outbreak of cholera in South Africa and Zimbabwe and that it was possible someone on board also had the gastrointestinal illness, she told the paper.
They were instructed to be more strict with hygiene, and she said she had also seen more cleaning on board including ‘spraying and vacuuming everywhere’.
Authorities in Mauritius said the decision was ‘taken in order to avoid any health risks’.
Samples have been taken for testing from those on board, with the results expected to be known tomorrow.
The ship had previously docked in South Africa, and after this some passengers developed mild stomach illness symptoms, the operator Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said.
The Mauritius Ports Authority said in a statement: ‘The decision not to allow the cruise ship access to the quay was taken in order to avoid any health risks.
‘The health and safety of passengers as well as that of the country as a whole are of the utmost to the authorities.
It did not give any details about the nature of the health risk.
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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