FIVE tourists on board a cruise liner that arrived in the Northern Division yesterday were not allowed ashore on the orders of health officials.
Officials who are part of the quarantine team at Savusavu port requested that the five on board the Pacific Sun remain in their cabins after they showed symptons of seasonal flu.
The cruise liner sailed in from Australia.
Health inspectors from the Savusavu Hospital awaited the arrival of the cruise liner to check passengers.
It is understood that the cruise liner sent a report to the Savusavu Hospital last week informing it of the situation on board.
A health official said the team had already known of the five cases before the cruise liner docked.
The remaining tourists spent the day in Savusavu and visited nearby villages where they were entertained and treated to local food as part of tourism sightseeing activities.
The ship left yesterday afternoon.
Ministry of Health spokesman Iliesa Tora said a team was at the port in the morning to carry out necessary inspection on the 1600 passengers that disembarked.
"We urge the public to follow preventative measures such as always washing your hands, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and immediately seek medical attention if you are coughing and have other symptoms of a flu," Mr Tora said.