WILLEMSTAD - The Ministry of Public Health announced that they have identified a case of measles in Curaçao last Friday.

The ministry immediately emphasizes that the person - a tourist who was staying at the Sunscape Hotel in Marie Pampoen - was not infected in Curaçao. At the same time, an urgent appeal is made to persons who have been in contact with guests of the relevant hotel to report to the Department of Public Health.

The tourist felt unwell and consulted a doctor on Friday morning who, after a number of necessary lab tests, determined that there was measles. In a written statement the ministry explains that the patient arrived in Curaçao on July 15 and felt unwell within a few days and had a high fever and rash on July 17.

Dr. Gerstenbluth of the ministry again emphasizes in a written statement that this person was not infected in Curaçao. Based on calculations, the patient could be infected from 12 July and thus constitutes a risk of infection for others up to and including 21 July.

Photo: Dr. Gerstenbluth (credit: Persbureau)