Mauritius has refused entry to a Norwegian cruise ship in the capital, Port Louis, due to concerns about a potential cholera outbreak on board.

Approximately 15 individuals on the Norwegian Dawn are currently in isolation due to suspected illness. Mauritian authorities have justified their decision to deny docking, stating that it was made “to prevent any potential health risks.”

Samples were collected for testing yesterday, and the results are anticipated to be available tomorrow. According to a representative from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, passengers exhibited mild symptoms of a stomach illness during their journey to South Africa.

A Dutch passenger on the ship informed BN DeStem that the captain had alerted them to the possibility of a cholera outbreak on board. Cholera outbreaks have been reported in southern Africa in recent months, with Zambia being particularly affected.

Since January 2023, the UN reports that a staggering 188,000 individuals have contracted cholera across seven countries in southern Africa, resulting in over 3,000 fatalities.

Highlighting the significance of health and safety, the Mauritius Ports Authority emphasized, “The well-being of passengers and the overall health of the country are paramount to the authorities.”

The cruise ship arrived in Mauritius on Saturday evening, a day earlier than scheduled, having skipped Réunion Island. The vessel carries a total of 2,184 passengers and 1,026 crew members. Among them, approximately 2,000 were initially planning to disembark in Port Louis, with an additional 2,000 expected to board simultaneously.

Due to the denial of permission to dock and concerns about a potential cholera outbreak on board, those intending to disembark or join the cruise will now proceed with their plans on 27 February, as conveyed by a spokesperson from Norwegian Cruise Line.