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This is an undated archive photo of St. Lucia.
Prisma Bildagentur | UIG | Getty Images
Health officials in St. Lucia have quarantined a cruise ship that appears to be operated by the Church of Scientology after confirming that one member of the crew had measles.
The cruise ship "Freewinds" is currently docked on the Caribbean Island, the Coast Guard Sgt of St. Lucia. Theodore Victor told CNBC. The Church of Scientology, which owns a vessel called "Freewinds", did not return requests for comments.
Saint Lucia's chief medical officer, Merlene Fredericks-James, who refused to name the ship, said in a statement that the ship had fewer than 300 passengers and crew members.
The ship did not leave St. Lucia. The crew member is isolated aboard the ship and the other crew members and passengers are not allowed to disembark, she said.
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Measles is very contagious. The disease can live in the air for up to two hours after a person sneezes, infecting 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to it.
The Netherlands Caribbean, the last port of call of the ship before arriving in St. Lucia, alerted officials in St. Lucia that a laboratory test confirmed that the female member of the crew had measles.
Officials in St. Lucia maintain "close communication" with regional and international health agencies, such as the Pan American Health Organization and the Caribbean Public Health Agency, Fredericks-James said.
Several measles outbreaks occur worldwide. The United States has the worst year for measles in 25 years, with 704 confirmed cases this year and nearly three quarters of this year's cases occurring among unvaccinated people.
CNBC Meg Tirrell and Ryan Ruggiero contributed to this article.
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