2,000 cruise passengers rejected from port amid fears of cholera outbreak onboard

A Norwegian Cruise Line ship carrying more than 2,000 passengers was forced to quarantine off the coast of Mauritius amid fears of a cholera outbreak.

The Norwegian Dawn was turned away from the dock in Port Louis, the capital city of the East African nation, on Sunday due to “potential health risks” after 15 passengers were put in isolation on board, the Mauritius Ports Authority said.

The isolated passengers underwent testing after they started experiencing symptoms of a stomach-related illness, according to a spokesperson for the US-based Norwegian Cruise Line.

Multiple media outlets reported that the stomach illness was suspected to be cholera.

Mauritius Ministry of Health director Dr Bhooshun Ori revealed on Monday, however, that the test results had since determined there was no evidence of cholera onboard — and the sick passengers were instead battling gastroenteritis.

He added that the passengers had now “fully recovered.”

The ship was later given the all clear to dock at the port by Mauritius authorities.

The ship — carrying 2,184 passengers and 1,026 crew members — had set off on a 12-night voyage from Cape Town, South Africa en route to Port Louis on Feb. 13.

“The decision not to allow the cruise ship access to the quay was taken in order to avoid any health risks,” the Mauritius authority said in its initial statement.

“The health and safety of passengers as well as that of the country as a whole are of the utmost to the authorities.”