Measles Aboard Equinox

[TheSkipper]

Two crewmembers on Celebrity Equinox, the brand-new ship scheduled to debut 31 July in Southampton, have fallen ill with measles.

Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez tells us that 11 other crewmembers -- close contacts with those who are infected with the highly contagious respiratory disease -- are currently in quarantine. No other crewmembers have tested positive (by blood test) or show symptoms of the virus, which include a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

As a hedge against the spread, the line has ordered 1,000 doses of measles vaccines, which will be distributed to crewmembers who either haven't been or can't remember being vaccinated. People from many countries, including the United States and United Kingdom, receive MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccines in early childhood. The international nature of a crew means that there are those from countries that don't require the vaccinations.