Feb 26, 2024 at 5:50 AM Update: a day ago
More than three thousand people are stuck on a cruise ship off the coast of the East African island of Mauritius. Cholera has probably broken out on the Norwegian Dawn. Due to several cases of gastrointestinal illness on board, local authorities refused to allow the ship to dock on Sunday.
The captain planned to dock in the port of the Mauritanian capital Port Louis. The French island of Réunion had previously refused the ship. Southern Africa is currently experiencing one of the largest cholera outbreaks in years.
The majority of the 2,184 passengers would start their journey home on Sunday. 2,279 new travelers would also board in Port Louis, the port authority reports. There are 1,026 crew members on the Norwegian Dawn. According to newspaper BN DeStem there are at least fifteen Dutch people among the passengers.
Heart of the Netherlands spoke a Dutch family on board the ship. Isabeau Verdaas from Breda tells the SBS program that the situation triggers many emotions among the passengers: “Anger, sadness, fear and ultimately resignation.”
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Little inconvenience for passengers, just a little less food
Practically speaking, the family is not bothered much by the situation. More cleaning is done on board. Furthermore, passengers can use all facilities. However, food portions are becoming smaller, Verdaas notes. “Still, the beautiful view makes up for a lot and we enjoy it even more,” she adds.
Ministry of Health employees took samples on board on Sunday morning. The results of the investigation into fifteen patients are expected on Tuesday. According to authorities, at least fourteen passengers and a crew member suffered from diarrhea and vomiting. They are isolated in their rooms.
The Norwegian Dawn left South Africa on February 13 for a journey via Madagascar to Réunion and Mauritius. The cruise ship would then return to South Africa with new passengers.
Wat is cholera?
On our response platform NUjij people are asked what cholera actually is. The disease is caused by a bacterium. There are two hundred different types of cholera bacteria, but only two of them can make people sick, it explains RIVM out. Patients suddenly vomit and suffer from diarrhea.
You can get sick if you drink or eat contaminated foods. Crustaceans and shellfish in particular pose a risk. The feces of someone who has cholera is also contagious.
In most people, cholera is mild and the disease goes away on its own, says the RIVM. The biggest danger is dehydration, as you lose a lot of fluid.
More than 90 percent of cases occur in Africa. In the Netherlands there are zero to nine reports per year.
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Image: Reuters
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