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 The Church of Scientology cruise ship was confined in port this week
by island health officials after the highly contagious disease was
detected on board.
CNN reported the ship had left St. Lucia, and online ship traffic
data showed that the vessel was underway and headed for the island
of Curacao.
One case of measles had been confirmed on the ship docked in port
near the capital of Castries since Tuesday, Dr. Merlene
Frederick-James, St. Lucia's chief medical officer, said in a video
statement.
"The confirmed case as well as other crew members are presently
stable, but remain under surveillance by the ship's doctor," she
said, noting the incubation period of measles is 10 to 12 days
before symptoms appear.
The number of measles cases in the United States has reached a
25-year peak with more than 700 people diagnosed as of this week,
part of an international resurgence in the disease. (Graphic:
https://tmsnrt.rs/2GJgoBt)
NBC News, citing a St. Lucia Coast Guard sergeant, reported the ship
is named Freewinds, which is the name of a 440-foot vessel owned and
operated by the Church of Scientology.
According to Reuters Eikon shipping data, a Panamanian-flagged
cruise liner identified as SMV Freewinds had been docked in port
near Castries on Thursday. It was now at sea and expected to arrive
at Curacao on Saturday.
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On its website, the Church of Scientology describes the Freewinds as
a floating "religious retreat ministering the most advanced level of
spiritual counseling in the Scientology religion."
Church officials did not respond to requests for comment.
NBC News reported that nearly 300 passengers and crew were aboard
the vessel, with one female crew member diagnosed with measles.
Public health officials blame declining vaccination rates in some
communities driven by misinformation about inoculation that has left
those populations vulnerable to rapid spread of infection among
those with no immunity to the virus.
The vast majority of U.S. cases have occurred in children who have
not received vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR),
officials said.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; additional reporting by
Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Lisa Shumaker and
Darren Schuettler)
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