Free Measles Vaccine Delivered To Scientology Cruise Ship In Quarantine

Health officials from the Caribbean island of St Lucia have administered 100 free doses of measles vaccine to a cruise ship of the Church of Scientology quarantined in a port after the diagnosis of the highly contagious disease on board.

On Thursday (Friday, local time), officials confirmed a case of measles aboard the ship moored in a port near Castries, capital of the island nation, since Tuesday, said in a video statement Dr. Merlene Frederick-James , Chief Medical Officer of St. Lucia. .

"The confirmed case as well as other crew members are currently stable but remain under surveillance by the ship's doctor," Frederick-James said, noting that the measles incubation period was 10 to 12 days before the onset of symptoms.

The Saint Lucia Ministry of Health ordered quarantine of the ship on Tuesday.

READ MORE: A Scientology cruise ship quarantined following a case of measles

The authorities of St. Lucia prevented the 10,328-ton Freewinds pbadengers and crew from leaving the ship. The infected person would be a female crew member.

The United States faces the worst measles outbreak in 25 years, with more than 700 people infected in 22 states this year. Health officials have blamed this upsurge on the so-called "anti-vax" movement, where misinformation has been leaked about the risk of vaccination.

The majority of cases in the United States occurred in children who did not receive the MMR vaccine, the three-way measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which confers immunity.

The rate of transmission from an infected person to another person with no immunity is about 90%, and an infected person can be contagious for four days before showing signs.

US states, including New York, New Jersey, Maine, Oregon, Vermont, Minnesota and Iowa plan to pbad laws prohibiting parents from citing their religious or personal beliefs in order to avoid vaccinating their children. The Church of Scientology has made no statements that would discourage vaccination.

According to the Scientology website, Freewinds, purchased in 1986, was a "religious retreat, serving the most advanced level of spiritual counseling in the religion of Scientology".

In 2004, actor Tom Cruise, the best-known member of Scientology, staged a surprise party on the occasion of his 42nd birthday.

"The Freewinds is a very special place," says the site. "This is the only place where a Scientologist can go and be certain to be able to devote himself entirely to his religious practice and in the company of people sharing his religious commitment and his vision of life in general."

Normally moored in Curaçao in the Caribbean, the Panamanian-flagged vessel was still moored off Castries, the capital of St. Lucia, with Dominica as its destination.

– with the agencies