June 18, 2009. Venezuelan Health Officials Quarantine Cruise Ship
| SOURCE: | Air Security International |
On 18 June 2009 a local Venezuelan health official reported that a Spanish-owned cruise ship called "Ocean Dream" had been quarantined off the coast of Venezuela after an on-board outbreak of the A/H1N1 virus. He stated that more than 1,200 passengers will remain docked at Venezuela's Margarita Island until 24 June after three crewmembers were officially diagnosed with the virus and 11 other individuals displayed suspicious symptoms. Passengers were allegedly prevented from disembarking at previously scheduled stops at Barbados and Grenada.
In a contrasting report, Pullmantur, the Spanish tour company that operates the vessel, denied that the ship was under quarantine and announced that the Ocean Dream will complete its scheduled itinerary. Company officials claim that 342 Venezuelan passengers had already disembarked at Margarita Island, where 11 patients will undergo strict medical evaluation. They stated that the remaining crewmembers and passengers are already en route to the island of Aruba, in the Netherlands Antilles, where they will dock and disembark at approximately 2000 UTC on 18 June.
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