The Associated Press

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao (AP) — Authorities in Curacao say 318 people aboard a Church of Scientology ship docked in the Dutch Caribbean island will remain quarantined until they determine how many might be infected with measles.

Dr. Izzy Gerstenbluth told The Associated Press that a team of health officials took 277 blood samples and sent them to the Netherlands. He said he expects results on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Gerstenbluth said late Sunday that 31 crew members and 10 passengers provided a vaccination certificate. He said the atmosphere on the boat is good and that everyone has been cooperating.

The 440-foot Freewinds ship was previously quarantined in St. Lucia after a female crew member was diagnosed with measles.

Curacao epidemiologist Dr. Izzy Gerstenbluth told The Associated Press that a small team was assessing the people aboard the ship.

“We will go on board and do our job,” he said, adding that authorities have an international obligation to avoid spreading the disease. “If we allow that to happen, measles spreads in places where the risk of severe complications is much bigger, especially when we’re talking about poor countries where people have a lower level of resistance.”

The quarantine comes amid a surge of cases, largely among unvaccinated people.

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