New Jersey health officials issued a warning about a potential measles exposure during Shakira’s concert at MetLife Stadium last week.
On Tuesday, the New Jersey Department of Health announced that a non-New Jersey resident attended the concert while infected with the disease.
People who attended the concert and suspect measles exposure or illness should call health care providers before they go to any medical office or emergency department, officials said.
Health officials recommend that residents stay up to date on routine vaccinations, including MMR shots.
Measles symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes and a rash that usually appears three to five days after symptoms begin.
During Shakira’s performance at MetLife Stadium last week, New Jersey health officials warned of a possible measles exposure.
The concert was attended by a non-resident who was infected with the disease, the New Jersey Department of Health said on Tuesday. On Thursday, the East Rutherford stadium hosted the concert.
Health care providers should be contacted before visiting any doctor’s office or emergency room by concertgoers who suspect measles exposure or illness, officials advised. It is best to call a medical facility before visiting. As late as June 6, symptoms could appear in anyone who was exposed at the concert.
People who have not received the full vaccination or who have never had measles before are at risk of contracting the disease. The safest and most efficient method of preventing measles, mumps, and rubella is to get the MMR vaccine, which is given in two doses. Additionally, the vaccine guards against complications brought on by those illnesses.
Residents should remain current on routine vaccinations, such as MMR shots, according to health officials. Babies aged 6 to 11 months should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine after their first birthdays, and anyone traveling abroad should also be fully vaccinated.
The symptoms of measles typically manifest three to five days after the onset of symptoms, and include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and rash. At the hairline, the rash usually starts as flat red spots on the face and moves down to the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet. According to authorities, measles can also result in pneumonia, brain edema, miscarriages in pregnant women, early births, or low birth weight babies.
As soon as someone coughs or sneezes, the virus enters the air and can linger there for up to two hours after the infected person has left. Contact with an infected person’s mucus or saliva can also make people ill.
