Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-02-27 11:18:34
A U.S.-owned luxury cruise ship with more than 3,000 passengers and crew was allowed to dock in the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius after being quarantined offshore for a day due to fears of a possible cholera outbreak onboard.
The Mauritius government cleared the Norwegian Dawn, owned and operated by the Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line company, to dock at the harbour in the capital, Port Louis, after health officials found no traces of cholera in tests conducted on the ship’s water. The decision to block the ship from docking on Sunday was taken after 15 people onboard fell ill with symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. The Mauritius Ports Authority stated that this action was necessary to prevent any potential health risks and sent officials onboard to collect samples for testing.
The Mauritian government later confirmed that the sick passengers had mild cases of gastroenteritis, a viral infection. Norwegian Cruise Line issued a statement clarifying that only a small number of guests were experiencing mild stomach-related symptoms and there were no confirmed cases of cholera onboard. The decision to test for cholera was made out of an abundance of caution.
Given the recent cholera outbreaks in mainland southern Africa, it is understandable that authorities in Mauritius were concerned about the potential spread of the disease. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported a cholera epidemic in the region, with thousands of cases and deaths across multiple countries.
Cholera is typically spread through contaminated food or water, prompting health officials to also test the food onboard the Norwegian Dawn for any traces of the bacteria. While these results were awaited, authorities were reassured by the negative water tests that there was no immediate cholera threat.
The Norwegian Dawn had a total of 2,184 passengers and 1,026 crew members onboard when it arrived in Mauritius. Approximately 2,000 passengers were scheduled to disembark and end their cruise, while another 2,279 new passengers were expected to embark on the ship.
Health officials conducted screenings for all individuals leaving the ship, as an additional precaution. Norwegian Cruise Line announced that the passengers would now disembark on Tuesday.
The 294-meter-long Norwegian Dawn features 14 decks, offering amenities such as a casino, a theatre, and a video game arcade. Cabin prices start at around $2,000 per person for a 12-day cruise, with luxurious options like the $47,000 3-bedroom Garden Villa that includes a private garden, hot tub, outdoor dining area, and personal butler service.
Despite the initial health concerns and quarantine measures, the Norwegian Dawn successfully completed its journey to Mauritius, ready to continue its voyage with newly embarked passengers.
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