Measles Warning Issued After Metlife Stadium Concert

Health officials in New Jersey are issuing a warning regarding the spread of measles after a massive concert at MetLife Stadium earlier this month.

Officials say that a non-New Jersey resident attended a Shakira concert on May 15 in East Rutherford. 

They advise anyone who attended the show and suspects they may have been exposed to call their health care provider before traveling to doctors or emergency services unannounced.

The officials also noted that those at risk include the unvaccinated and those who have not had measles in the past. Symptoms could be dormant until June 6, requiring those who suspect exposure to exercise caution over the next few weeks.

"Individuals — especially parents, guardians, health care providers, and caregivers — are urged to be aware of the symptoms of this highly contagious virus," said the New Jersey Department of Health.

The news comes after reports of a major measles outbreak in Texas. Two children have died and hundreds of people have developed symptoms associated with the disease.

Measles is among the world's most infectious diseases, and is particularly harmful to young children and babies. 

According to the CDC, one in 20 unvaccinated children who are infected with the disease develop pneumonia. One out of every 1,000 unvaccinated children develop encephalitis, a potentially fatal form of swelling within the brain.

Measles is primarily spread through droplets from coughs and sneezes, and those droplets can linger in the air for up to two hours.

New Jersey officials did not note where the person sat at the concert, but said that anyone at the stadium from 7:30 PM to 1 AM on the night of the show could potentially be exposed.

The health scare comes after the show was also affected by transportation issues. A short strike from transit workers eliminated bus and train service to the venue, causing many to file into coach buses out of New York City to make sure they could get to and from the show.

Beyonce is set to perform at Metlife Stadium this week, but officials are assuring fans that there is no risk of infection at the upcoming event in relation to this alert.