How did the malaria epidemic of 1866–68 affect Port Louis?

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The malaria epidemic that struck Mauritius between 1866 and 1868 had a significant negative impact on Port Louis. The outbreak caused shipping to be driven away from the city's port, contributing to a period of economic decline that was further exacerbated by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, which led to the port being bypassed by international maritime traffic.1