Mauritius has granted clearance for a Norwegian cruise ship to dock at the capital, Port Louis, after finding no evidence of cholera onboard.
At least 15 people aboard the Norwegian Dawn were isolated with a stomach illness, leading authorities to fear it was cholera. The director of the Mauritius Ministry of Health confirmed that the passengers had gastroenteritis, not cholera, and stated that they have since “fully recovered.”
Initially, Mauritian authorities had blocked the ship “to avoid any health risks.” The passengers had developed mild symptoms of a stomach illness during a trip to South Africa, according to a representative of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
Mary Francovilla Dees, 69, a passenger on the Norwegian Dawn, said that despite the delay, the atmosphere on the ship had been “fairly calm.” She mentioned that passengers had entertained themselves by sitting by the pool, attending shows, and going to the bar.
The passengers will undergo screening by health authorities upon disembarking from the liner. The Ministry of Health will provide medical assistance for all at the disembarkation point.
A Dutch passenger onboard said that they were informed by the captain that there could be a cholera outbreak onboard.
Since January 2023, at least 188,000 people have been infected with cholera across seven countries in southern Africa, according to the UN. More than 3,000 people have died, with Zambia being the hardest hit.
South Africa has reported 1,076 cholera cases and at least 47 deaths over the past two years, according to the Africa Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention.
“The health and safety of passengers as well as that of the country as a whole are of the utmost importance to the authorities,” stated the Mauritius Ports Authority.
The ship arrived in Mauritius on Saturday evening after arriving a day early because it did not stop in Réunion Island.
There are 2,184 passengers and 1,026 crew members on the ship. About 2,000 planned to disembark in Port Louis, with another 2,000 expected to board at the same time.
Those who were disembarking or joining the cruise will now do so on 27 February, according to a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson.
