Measles exposure warning issued for New Jersey Shakira concert attendees
People who attended Shakira’s concert at MetLife Stadium on May 15 are being warned of a potential measles exposure. The New Jersey Department of Health said a person infected with the virus was in the crowd that night.
The individual, who is not a New Jersey resident, was confirmed to have measles and may have exposed thousands of attendees to the disease. MetLife Stadium holds more than 82,000 people.
State urges vaccinations
In response, state health officials are urging all attendees to check their vaccination status and make sure they are up to date on MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunizations. The announcement was made Tuesday, May 20, as part of an official health alert.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incubation period for measles is typically 11 to 12 days. That means anyone who was exposed at the concert may develop symptoms between now and June 6.
What to watch for
Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery red eyes. A rash usually appears a few days after those initial symptoms.
If exposed, health experts recommend masking, isolating, getting tested and contacting infection control teams as a precaution.
RFK Jr. renews vaccine debate
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime skeptic of vaccine mandates, recently drew more attention for his comments about measles prevention.
Rather than advocating for MMR vaccine uptake, Kennedy ordered a search for new measles treatments, according to The New York Times. He recently told Fox News Host Sean Hannity that the MMR vaccine “does not appear to provide maternal immunity,” while citing rare adverse reactions.
One PubMed Central study highlights a case of a 30-year-old woman who developed unilateral optic neuritis after receiving the vaccine. Experts emphasize that such complications are extremely rare.
Measles on the rise nationwide
This warning comes as measles cases surge across the U.S. There have been more than 1,000 confirmed cases reported so far this year, spanning 30 states. Three of those cases have resulted in death.
As of the most recent update, the New Jersey Department of Health says no other confirmed cases tied to the Shakira concert have been identified.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
