The executive scientific officer on the island of St. Lucia has confirmed that the Ministry of Health is investigating a doable case of measles aboard a cruise ship for the time being docked in one of its ports.
Dr. Merlene Fredericks James said in a YouTube video on Tuesday that the cruise ship used to be being quarantined ensuing from fears that others on the ship could presumably well be contaminated.
James said that her division had realized early Tuesday morning from “two decent sources” that there had been a case of measles on board a cruise ship that had visited St. Lucia.
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“As per the Quarantine Act, our authority under the Quarantine Act, the Public Health Act, and after internal discussions to boot to discussions with external health companies corresponding to the Pan-American Health Organization, we thought it prudent that we quarantine the ship…The crew and passengers aboard had been not allowed to leave,” she said.
James did not title the cruise line or the boat, and did not notify where it came from.
“Measles, we know, is a highly infectious illness…So ensuing from the danger of skill an infection, not goal from the confirmed measles case nevertheless from varied persons who could presumably well be on the boat at the time, we thought it prudent to manufacture a possibility not to permit any individual to disembark,” she said. “The Ministry of Health continues to work with all authorities.”
In her YouTube announcement, James referred to the original measles outbreaks in the U.S., and suggested residents traveling to the U.S. and varied aspects of the arena that they make sure that they and their young other folk are adequately vaccinated against the illness.
On Monday, the U.S. Providers and products for Illness Opt watch over and Prevention reported that there had been 704 instances of measles reported nationally so far this 300 and sixty five days.
Preliminary world files showed that reported instances of measles contain been up nearly 300% in the famous three months of 2019 in comparison with the identical timeframe in 2018, in accordance with the World Health Organization.
ABC News’ Meghan Keneally contributed to the reporting in this story.
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