Disney Wonder MEASLES THREAT!

[LarryC]

Disney Alerts Cruise Passengers Of Measles Threat
Letters Sent To Customers
Posted: 10:06 a.m. EDT August 27, 2002
Updated: 10:13 a.m. EDT August 27, 2002

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Disney Cruise Line has sent almost 15,000 letters to customers alerting them that a crew member came down with German measles during a cruise on its ship Wonder earlier this month.

A spokesman said Tuesday that the letters were sent out to customers who had sailed in the two weeks before the Aug. 4 to 8 cruise and customers who were planning to sail in the month after the cruise.

The customers represented 17 sailings on the 877-room ship, which makes three trips a week between Port Canaveral and the Bahamas.

Most U.S. residents are inoculated for German measles, also known as rubella. Pregnant women are most at risk from exposure because it can cause serious birth defects. Symptoms include a rash, fever, aching joints and a headache. The incubation period is 23 days.

No new cases of the illness have been reported by guests or crew members.

 

[Hopkins]

Thanks for posting this article. You can tell the kids that the shots they have to get do indeed protect us from bad illnesses.

Tina

 

[Deb in IA]

Biggest risk is to PREGNANT WOMEN.

Rubella, aka 3-day or German measles, is a relatively mild, self-limited viral illness, lasting about 3 - 4 days in healthy adults (hence the name). However, in pregnant women, it can cause severe birth defects, including deafness, seizures, and mental retardation.

And that's the REAL reason children are immunized . . . to prevent the spread to expectant moms.

 

[kfahygc]

This is interesting. We sailed 7/28/02 which would fall into the 2 week prior to this date and we have not received a letter of this notification. I was aware of it because of these boards only. I wonder who received this letter.

Kathleen

 

[Gillian]

I guess if there is a real problem we'll be seeing more cases soon (or now).

How long is a rubella vaccine good for? Does it protect adults from getting it if they had it as a kid? I'm worried because we'll be at WDW before the Wonder & what if we bring home a souveneer? I guess I should check on my last MMR shot/booster?

 

[RellingTwin]

Immunity is life long. Once you have had your inoculations(sp) you are immune for life!
We just had an interesting case where a women who could not "prove" she had been inoculated, got the shot, and even though she was warned NOT to get pregnant for at least 1 month, she did get pregnant! She was very worried the vaccine would cause the same birth defects the virus can.
The doctor assured her that ALL the medical evidence shows the vaccine will have NO effect on a developing baby.

 

[iluvorlando]

Ummmmmm............I don't think your immune for life. I had to get an MMR booster after I had DD #1. I think the last time you get an MMR shot is when you are 6 or 7 yrs old.

 

[Deb in IA]

From the 2000 Red Book (Report of the Committee on Infections Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics)


"Clinical efficacy and challenge studies have demonstrated that 1 dose confers long-term, probably lifelong, immunity against clinical and asymptomatic infection in more than 90%of immunized persons.

Because of the 2-dose recommendation for measles vaccine as MMR, 2 doses of rubella vaccine now are given routinely. This provides an added safeguard against primary vaccine failures."

 

[taswira]

If an adult HAD German measles as a child (before the vaccine was available), does that also give them lifelong immunity? Or should they be vaccinated?

 

[Kermit]

Taswira, you should get the shot unless you've had measles and mumps as well, since they're all in the same shot. Like Deb said, you're doing it more for pregnant women and for people with severely compromised immune systems more than yourself. Even pregnant women shouldn't have much to worry about if they've been to their first OB appointment. A test to see if you're immune to rubella is standard, and your doctor would let you know if you weren't and would probably advise against taking a cruise anyway.

 

[taswira]

Thanks Kermit, but it wasn't myself I was asking about. I have a client who is cruising in February and read about the Rubella on the ship so was talking to me about it. I told her to speak with her physician. As for me - since I travel internationally extensively, I have been vaccinated for nearly everything there is a vaccine for!

 

[DVCindy]

We were on that cruise - Aug. 4 through 8. On the last evening we received a note at turndown from the ship's doctor telling us that 3 passengers were being treated with symptoms consistent with German Measels and one had received a positive diagnosis. I didn't realize it was a crew member. I didn't really get too concerned since we are all vaccinated. I did save the note for our scrapbook ! Cindy

 

[stitchfansmom]

I received the letter before boarding our 4-day Wonder on August 18. Both DS and I had been vaccinated so I wasn't too concerned.

 

[Gillian]

Kermit, thanks for the info on pregnancy. I spoke with my son's pediatrician today & she basically said the same thing about being tested when you are pregnant. Now I don't have to worry about anything if we get pregnant on our trip

 

[SomePixiedust]

We cruised on the 8/18 Wonder and were told by our server that the initial outbreak was from a family traveling on board (non US citizens). 3 CMs contracted it as a result. All CMs were prohibited from debarking on their day off at Port Canaveral as ALL HAD to receive immunizations. The 3 CMs were put in isolation and if 1 more case was discovered, the ship would not be able to sail. To make it up to the CMs (losing their day off), Disney threw them "A vaccination party---come get your shots". They had their party while we were on board, the CMs seemed to be pleased with it--although none of them got much (any) sleep that night!

No word on any new cases.

 

[tezb]

I had Rubella when I was 19 and when I had my first pregnancy in my 20's I was tested for Rubella and it came out positive...the doctor said if you've had the illness, it shows positive and that means you have an immunity to the disease...forever.

 

[dis4me]

What are the risks to babies who have not yet had an MMR?

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Not that I am expecting this to be a problem, but out of curiosity, I wonder what DCL would do with families like us?

We are sailing in March of 2003 with our 10 month old. Although I am not a total expert on her shot schedule (I just show up and her doc does what needs to be done) I believe that she would not be immune to Rubella at that point. Obviously if that happened last minute, we'd cancel the trip. Wonder if Disney would allow us to reschedule? We do get Trip Insurance so perhaps it is covered under that.

Like I said, I'm not really worried about it, just curious!

Kathy

 

[albiats]

Anyone know how long it takes to be protected with the vacine?

In other words, if someone got the vacine this week, would it be effective immediately, or how much time is needed?

I'm sailing on the Wonder on Oct 17 and I'm not really sure if I had the vacine when I was in grade school or not.

thanks

 

[Gillian]

dis4me, I don't think Rubella is really that bad. It can cause severe birth defects, but the disease itself is mild.

Kathy, it might not be a bad idea to talk to your pediatrician about your cruise anyway. Maybe he would want to step up some of the shots? They have some flexibility in the schedule, I think. I'm not an expert either!

From what I've read, a baby may have its mother's antibodies for about a year. The MMR shot isn't given until 12 months because the mom's antibodies may interfere with the effectiveness. if there is an outbreak, it can be give at 6 months. there is a booster given at 5 years for all kids.