Health Officials Report Measles Exposure at Shakira Concert

A significant health alert was issued by New Jersey health officials regarding potential measles exposure at a Shakira concert held at MetLife Stadium. An individual diagnosed with measles attended the event, which drew over 82,000 attendees . This incident highlights the ongoing public health concerns surrounding vaccine-preventable diseases in large gatherings. Health officials warned that individuals who were present between 7:30 p.m. on May 15 and 1:00 a.m. on May 16 could exhibit symptoms of measles as late as June 6, underscoring the disease's incubation period and contagious nature .

Shakira's Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour is reportedly a success, with the singer entertaining fans with deep cuts, her nanny's appearance (linked to the cheating scandal), and signature hip-shaking. However, the New Jersey Department of Health issued a measles exposure warning this week for tens of thousands who attended Tuesday's concert.The irony isn't lost on anyone: Shakira's hips are healthy enough to ignite stadiums, but apparently, the attendees' immune systems… not so much. The Department of Health is urging anyone who was at the Prudential Center on Tuesday to monitor themselves for measles symptoms, which include fever, cough, runny nose, and a characteristic rash. Unvaccinated individuals, especially, are being advised to quarantine and contact their doctors immediately.

Social media is predictably ablaze. Some are praising Shakira's performance despite the health scare, calling it a small price to pay for witnessing the "Hips Don't Lie" live. Others are far less forgiving, questioning the venue's and organizers' responsibility in ensuring attendees were properly vaccinated. Memes are, of course, rampant, featuring everything from Shakira wielding a giant syringe to Piqué photoshopped with measles spots. It's a messy situation that’s adding a less-than-glamorous chapter to what was otherwise shaping up to be a triumphant return for the Colombian superstar. Here's hoping everyone stays healthy, and maybe next time, they'll require proof of vaccination alongside those ticket stubs.

Where in the stadium the infected person was seated, where they live and how they arrived to the concert isn’t clear. Due to a New Jersey Transit strike that’s since been resolved, Garden State buses and trains were not operating when Shakira performed, though Coach USA buses brought some passengers from Port Authority to New Jersey for the shows.

While vaccinations protect against measles, the World Health Organization says there’s no specific treatment for the very preventable yet highly infectious virus. The New York State Department of Health has recorded five cases of measles in New York City and six cases outside the five boroughs so far this year.

The virus spreads through the air when someone coughs or sneezes and can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.

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Sarah H

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