The News Minute | October 19, 2014 | 2.45 PM IST
Four days after the Caribbean luxury cruise ship, carrying more than 4,000 passengers, set sail from Galveston, Texas on October 12; it strangely stopped off the coast of Belize. Then the rumors spread that a lab technician at Dallas hospital, Texas who handled a specimen from another man who died of Ebola, was on the ship and was showing symptoms of the disease. As per reports, ‘Carnival Magic’ ship’s captain confirmed the news over the loudspeaker, though he did not mention the term Ebola.
Even Mexican authorities did allow the ship in to the port, on the fear of spreading Ebola. Then the ship headed back to Texas.
The ship has tried to dock twice since it started the journey on October 12, but both Belize and Mexico refused permission. The ship returned to Galveston on Sunday.
The passengers were scared and deeply concerned about the news. "People were scared. I've seen people crying. We are using the same buffet line as someone else, the same waiters, and the folks that clean the state rooms” said a passenger to The Telegraph.
One passenger named Eric Lupher who works as a reporter for ABC7 in Denver, Colorado, has been tweeting from inside the ship.
Some areas blocked off as chopper lands to get blood sample. Passenger still healthy according to the captain pic.twitter.com/Mw2pLbzo66
— Eric Lupher (@EricLupher7News) October 18, 2014Blood sample successfully picked up by chopper. Again...we're told the passenger is still "completely healthy" pic.twitter.com/6AVmjuNli9
— Eric Lupher (@EricLupher7News) October 18, 2014"We greatly regret that this situation, which was completely beyond our control, precluded the ship from making its scheduled visit to Cozumel and the resulting disappointment it has caused our guests. The Texas healthcare worker on board continues to show no symptoms of illness and poses no risk to the guests or crew on board" authorities informed media.