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The Chief Medical Officer of the Island of St. Lucia confirmed that the Department of Health was investigating a possible case of measles aboard a cruise ship currently docked in one of its ports. .
Merlene Fredericks James said Tuesday in a YouTube video that the cruise ship was in quarantine, fearing that other people on the ship would be infected.
James said his department had learned Tuesday morning of "two reputable sources" that there had been a case of measles aboard a cruise ship that had visited St. Lucia.
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"Under the Quarantine Act, our authority under the Public Health Act and after internal discussions as well as discussions with external health agencies such as the Pan American Health Organization, we have It was considered prudent to quarantine the vessel and the crew and passengers on board were not allowed to leave, "she said.
James did not name the cruise company nor the boat and did not indicate where he was coming from.
"Measles, we know it, is a very contagious disease … So, because of the potential risk of infection, not only from the case of confirmed measles, but also from other people who might be on the boat at that time, we thought it prudent to make a decision not to allow anyone to land, "she said. "The Ministry of Health continues to work with all authorities."
In his YouTube ad, James spoke about the ongoing measles outbreaks in the United States and advised residents traveling to the United States and other parts of the world to ensure that they and their children are properly immunized against the disease.
On Monday, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 704 cases of measles have been reported nationally since the beginning of the year.
According to preliminary global data, reported measles cases increased by nearly 300% in the first three months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, according to the World Health Organization.
Meghan Keneally, of ABC News, contributed to the story in this story.
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