Emergency services were mobilized on December 29, after a cruise ship reported a passenger suspected of having meningitis while sailing off the coast of southern Brazil, local media reported.

The Costa Diadema, en route from Santos to Buenos Aires, requested medical assistance at approximately 3:30 p.m. while positioned near the Mar Grosso region of Laguna, in the state of Santa Catarina. The ship remained about half a nautical mile offshore during the operation.

At the request of the Laguna Port Authority, the Santa Catarina Military Fire Department was deployed to assist with access to the harbor entrance and to escort the ship’s tender boat bringing the patient ashore.

The passenger is a 56-year-old woman, was disembarked at the pier at the harbor entrance, where a SAMU (Mobile Emergency Care Service) medical team was already on standby. After receiving initial medical assessment, she was transported to Laguna Hospital for further evaluation.

Following the disembarkation, firefighters assisted the rescue vessel as it exited the harbor and escorted it until the Costa Diadema was safely clear and back underway.

No official information has been released regarding the passenger’s medical condition.