Cliff Notes – Shakira fans concerned after highly infectious disease spreads at her concert
- A health alert has been issued after an attendee at Shakira’s concert in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 15 was confirmed to have measles, potentially exposing numerous fans and staff to the virus.
- The New Jersey Department of Health has warned that anyone present at MetLife Stadium during the concert hours could be at risk, despite no additional cases reported yet.
- Measles is highly contagious and can lead to severe health complications; vaccination is the most effective prevention method, especially as the US faces a rise in measles cases this year.
Shakira fans concerned after ‘highly infectious disease spreads at her concert’
Shakira fans have been left slightly unsettled after being alerted that one of her recent concerts may have been linked to the spread of measles.
After releasing music for the first time when she was just 14, the Colombian singer entered English-language market with her fifth album, Laundry Service in 2001, which sold over 15 million copies worldwide and became the best-selling album of all time by a female Latin artist.
In the years since she has gone on to win four Grammy Awards and fifteen Latin Grammy Awards.
Earlier this year the 48-year-old started her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, her first in seven years.
After kicking it off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last week she began her string of concerts in the United States.
Despite glowing reviews for the shows, some fans are now worried after a health warning was issued.
A person with measles attended her recent show
A press release sent out by the New Jersey Department of Health has alerted people that someone who attended Shakira’s concert at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on May 15 may have exposed numerous staff and attendees to the disease.
According to the health department, anyone who was at the stadium from 7:30pm that night through to 1am the following day could have been exposed to the virus.
However, it hasn’t shared specific details of where the infected attendee sat during the show.
People who didn’t sit near them are still at risk of contracting measles though due to its high transmissibility.
The health department has confirmed no other cases of measles have been reported from the event yet but due to the disease’s incubation period, people might not begin displaying symptoms until as late as June 6.
Although measles, which is an airborne virus, is considered one of the most contagious diseases in the world, it is preventable with vaccines.
Over the past few months there has been several states in the US that have faced measle outbreaks.
So far this year, the US has already recorded the most measles cases in a year (1,024) since a breakout of the disease in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What are the dangers of measles?
Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people.
It usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. Measles can lead to serious problems if it spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or brain.
Problems that can be caused by measles include pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures.
These problems are rare, but some people are more at risk. This includes babies and people with weakened immune systems.
Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it.
The disease had not been widespread in the US for about two decades amid high vaccination rates however 96% of the new cases were in unvaccinated individuals. Three people have now died from the disease.
According to USA Today, MetLife Stadium has a capacity for 50,000 attendees at concerts.
The health department also noted that the infected individual who attended the Shakira concert was from out of town, but did not clarify if they had been previously vaccinated.
Last week Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a vaccine sceptic, was grilled by Democratic lawmakers during a House Appropriations Committee hearing on previous claims he made about vaccines, including downplaying the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine.
After saying he would ‘probably’ vaccinate his children against the measles today, he added: ‘My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant. I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.’
Shakira is next set to perform in Detroit, Michigan, tomorrow night. Her tour is due to end in Lima, Peru, on November 16.