Turks and Caicos cruise port closed due to virus outbreak
Published on March 18, 2013,Caribbean News Now
GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands — Following an outbreak in the Turks and Caicos Islands of 25 cases of a sickness that causes vomiting and diarrhea, the Carnival Cruise Port on the capital island of Grand Turk has been closed until sanitation measures have been completed.
Health officials under health minister and premier, Dr Rufus Ewing, have been trying in vain to locate the source of the virus causing the outbreak. There are no inter-island travel restrictions and a few cases have now cropped up in Providenciales, the most populated island.
There has been a continuing problem with the public water supply in Grand Turk, which has been in disrepair for approximately seven years. The reverse osmosis plant was replaced by the interim government but it remains for the elected government to provide the enclosure building and complete the installation. It is thought that the system may be contaminated.
Each cruise ship passenger pays a $3.50 arrival fee and the closure has resulted in economic setbacks to the government and local vendors.
