Possible Measles Exposure in New Jersey Following Concert

Last week, New Jersey officials alerted residents about a “potential exposure” to measles after a person, not from the state, contracted the virus at a Shakira concert held at Metlife Stadium.

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) shared a message on Tuesday advising residents to “recognize the symptoms of this highly contagious virus” and to ensure they are current with their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations.

Authorities emphasized that anyone who attended the concert last Thursday “may have been exposed” to the virus, with symptoms potentially manifesting until June 6th.

Symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and rashes that typically appear three to five days after initial symptoms. For more detailed signs of the measles rash, refer to the health department’s statement.

The health department noted that people most at risk are those who are not fully vaccinated or have never had measles.

As of Tuesday, there had been no additional cases linked to the concert, according to health officials.

Officials affirmed that the MMR vaccine is the “most effective way” to guard against measles and can be “very effective” in preventing complications associated with the disease.

The department urged healthcare providers to “seize every opportunity” to evaluate patient vaccinations to ensure everyone is up to date with routine immunizations.

If anyone suspects exposure or infection, they should contact their healthcare provider before seeking medical attention to avoid risking the health of others in medical settings.

“Please don’t visit medical facilities without calling first,” they advised.

The US is currently facing a significant increase in measles cases, with over 1,000 reported across 31 states. A considerable portion of these cases is in Texas, which has seen more than 700 instances, primarily among unvaccinated children and teenagers.