The Norwegian Dawn is currently stranded off the coast of East African island of Mauritius as a result of a quarantine order imposed by local authorities.
Passengers on the voyage were ill with stomachaches while aboard the ship, and until the results of the tests were back, no one on board the massive ship could disembark.
Entry Denied
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), authorities in Mauritius denied the Norwegian Dawn entry to Port Louis on Sunday, February 25, after the rejection of the ship by La Reunion, a French island, due to a string of gastrointestinal illnesses on board.
In a statement, the Mauritius Ports Authority said they decided not to provide the cruise liner access to the quay because they wanted to prevent potential health hazards.
"The health and safety of passengers as well as that of the country as a whole are of the utmost to the authorities," it stated, but it did not specify what kind of health risk was involved.
According to a report by Reuters, Sunday was meant to be the start of the returning trip for most of the 2,184 passengers. Concurrently, the port administration said that 2,279 more passengers were initially scheduled to embark in Port Louis. On board the ship are 1,026 crew members as well.
The dawn-class cruise ship Norwegian Star, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), moors in the Bay of Cannes on May 13, 2019 on the eve of the opening of the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France.
See Also: Scientists Research Potential Human Transmission of Zombie Deer Disease Following Surge of Cases
Affected Passengers
On Sunday morning, around 15 individuals on board were subjected to sampling by employees of the Ministry of Health. Tuesday, February 27, is the anticipated day for the investigation's findings.
The authorities have reported that one staff member and 14 passengers are experiencing symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Each of their rooms has been sealed off from the others.
According to Norwegian Cruise Line, an America-based cruise line, a few of Norwegian Dawn's guests reported minor gastrointestinal issues throughout the 12-day journey from South Africa.
"Due to additional testing being required by local authorities before being allowed entry, the government of Mauritius has delayed disembarkation for the current cruise and embarkation for the next cruise by two days to February 27, 2024," the company stated, per SCMP's report.
The firm highlighted that they have taken all essential precautions to ensure the safety of its passengers, staff, and destinations and that it has tightened up on hygiene procedures on board.
On February 13, the ship sailed out from South Africa on its voyage via Madagascar to La Reunion and Mauritius. The additional passengers were to be boarded before the Norwegian Dawn set sail for South Africa.
See Also: CDC Says Flu Season Peaked Early, But There's Still Chance of Resurgence
