Rubella Advisory Issued for Cruises

Before going on a cruise, women who are of childbearing age or are pregnant should make sure they are immune to rubella (also called German or three-day measles), the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cautioned.

The caution comes on the heels of rubella outbreaks among crew on two cruise ships last year. Traditionally, the CDC has advised international travelers about rubella but not specifically cruise travelers, said Dr. Susan Maloney, CDC medical epidemiologist.

Rubella is usually a mild disease, but when it strikes pregnant women, children can be born with congenital rubella syndrome, which can include deafness, cataracts, heart defects and mental retardation. Immunity can be verified through documentation of vaccination or through blood tests to detect antibodies. Pregnant women should not be vaccinated, Maloney added.

Both cruise lines that experienced the rubella outbreaks--New SeaEscape Cruises Ltd. in Florida and Carnival Cruise Line--have vaccinated crew members, their spokeswomen said. The CDC recommends that all cruise lines administer rubella vaccine to all crew without documented immunity.

At Holland America and Windstar, neither of which were involved in the outbreaks, “we are looking at a vaccination program to see if the benefits outweigh the risks,” said Dr. Carter Hill of Seattle, medical director. He cited concerns about possible vaccine side effects and the cost--estimated at $600,000 or more to inoculate crew at the two lines.