The cruise ship MSC Seaview arrived this morning in the Port of Santos, Brazil with 13 crew members suspected of having a rubella virus. The information was confirmed by the Brazil National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and by the Health Department of Santos. A medical team of three doctors and six nurses boarded the cruise ship to assist the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency in the investigation and to collect samples from the patients. The first symptoms reported by officials were fever, skin rash, headache, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck and behind the ears, which is highly suggestive for the illness.

According to MSC Cruises statement during the voyage that started on February 9, some crew members reported symptoms to the ship's medical facility indicating possible cases of rubella. After an evaluation by the ship’s medical staff, the crew were escorted and isolated to their cabins, where they received medical care. The company said that Brazilian Health Authorities were immediately notified, and today biological samples of the crew members were collected on board the vessel. MSC Cruises awaits the official medical report from the test and says that all crew members are well.

According to some guests MSC Seaview had been cleared for landing in Port of Santos and were notified by the ship if they feel some of the symptoms of rubella to seek the nearest health facility when disembarkation process started.

Rubella is an airborne virus which can be spread through coughing and sneezing to e person who is not vaccinated against the disease. Symptoms can include a low-grade fever, sore throat and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Symptoms can begin between 12 and 23 days. People infected with rubella are most contagious when the rash is erupting, but they can be contagious from seven days before to seven days after the rash appears.