According to the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero a measles outbreak has occurred on the Costa Pacifica cruise ship.

The newspaper says that dozens of cruise passengers were probably infected with the virus that causes measles. The cruise ship called on the port of Civitavecchia.

59 infected crew members were sent ashore for medical treatment.

Costa says, for what it’s worth, that there have been no confirmed cases of passengers infected with the measles virus yet.

A measles outbreak is very serious. There is a particular danger to women of childbearing age with measles.  U.S. based cruise lines vaccinate for measles because the virus is so virulent.

Cruise expert Professor Ross Klein was the first in the U.S. / Canada to report on this disturbing outbreak. 

If you have information about this viral outbreak, please leave a comment below or join the discussion on Facebook.

Costa Pacifica Measles

Photo Credit:  Luciano Giobb via Il Messaggero