A Norwegian Cruise Line ship has been blocked from entering Mauritius after a suspected cholera outbreak onboard.

Local authorities banned the Norwegian Dawn ship, which is carrying 2,184 passengers and 1,026 crew, from entering on Sunday due to “potential health risks”.

The ship is on a 12 day itinerary travelling from Cape Town, South Africa to Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius.

The Mauritius Ports Authority said that samples had been taken from 15 passengers onboard and they had been placed in isolation onboard due to their health.

A spokesperson said: “As the test results will only be known in approximately 48 hours, passengers who were due to board the ‘Norwegian Dawn’ and begin their cruise from Mauritius today will not be able to do so due to potential health risks. They will have to be relocated to available hotel establishments.”

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said that a “small number of guests experienced mild symptoms of a stomach related illness”.

They added that the ship’s crew had increased its sanitation procedures and would take any necessary measures to protect passengers and crew.

USA Today reported that its journalists at the scene had heard the illness was suspected to be cholera.

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Symptoms of cholera include diarrhoea, vomiting, thirst and leg cramps. It’s not found in the UK but is a risk in some parts of the world.

Cholera is transmitted by drinking unclean water, eating food that’s been in unclean water or eating food handled by an infected person.

Guests are being helped with travel arrangements by Norweigan Cruise Line.