Measles Scare After Shakira's Concert: Signs and Symptoms Of This Highly Contagious Disease
The New Jersey Department of Health has cautioned individuals who attended Shakira's concert on May 15 of a possible exposure to measles. The officials have confirmed that an infected person attended the show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, raising concerns about potential exposure among thousands of fans.
According to the statement issued by the New Jersey Department of Health, anyone who visited MetLife stadium between 7:30 p.m. on May 15 and 1:00 a.m. on May 16 could have been exposed to the highly contagious virus. If infected, individuals may develop symptoms until June 6, 2025. However, no new cases have been reported until now.
Health officials have also urged those who attended the concert to seek medical help if they notice any symptoms.
Measles, its symptoms and transmission
Measles, also called rubeola is a highly contagious illness. It typically affects the respiratory tract and then spreads to other parts of the body. Measles is a serious airborne disease which can lead to complications and even death.
How it spreads
Measles is highly contagious, which means it spreads easily from person to person. It's an airborne disease, which means it spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks. These infected droplets can also land on surfaces which can infect you if you touch contaminated surfaces and then touch your mouth, nose or eyes.
The virus can live in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.
What are the symptoms of measles?
The most common and classic symptom of measles is a widespread skin rash which commonly starts from the head and slowly spreads to other parts of the body.
Other symptoms include:
Cough
Fever
Red eyes
Runny nose
Sore throat
White spots inside the mouth
Muscle pain
Headache
Digestive issues like diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting
These symptoms appear within 10-12 days of exposure to the virus. However, these symptoms don't appear all at once. Fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes may appear first. Two-three days later one may notice white spots inside the mouth followed by a rash around 3-5 days after the initial symptoms.
Prevention
Unvaccinated individuals are at a higher risk of catching the virus. Measles outbreaks are usually associated with lower vaccination rates. The measles vaccine is one of the best ways to prevent this infection. It is usually given as a combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to children between 12-15 months of age. According to CDC, the two doses are 97% effective against the virus.
Adults who have not been vaccinated can speak with their doctors to get vaccinated.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
US COVID vaccine recommendations sow confusion among doctors, insurers
Chicago: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's intervention in COVID-19 vaccine recommendations without input from a key U.S. CDC advisory panel has sown confusion among physicians and insurers over who should get the shots and whether they will be covered, experts told Reuters. Kennedy, a long-time vaccine skeptic, in a video posted on social media last week said the government was dropping its recommendation that healthy children and pregnant women should receive COVID shots. Days later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its recommended childhood vaccine schedule online to show the shots could be given to healthy children when parents and doctors agree they are needed. It removed its recommendation that pregnant women should receive the shot. The moves sidestepped the normal process in which a panel of outside experts to the CDC - the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - reviews data in a public meeting and votes on vaccine recommendations. The ACIP recommendations are sent to the CDC director for approval and incorporated in the agency's vaccine schedule, which helps determine insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act . "The surprise announcement has created uncertainty for payers and providers about whether the video posting constitutes an official policy change," said Sarah Moselle, a principal at health consultancy Avalere. Insurers will wait to make coverage decisions until after ACIP makes a recommendation at its upcoming meeting scheduled for June 25-27, according to Robert Popovian, founder of healthcare consultancy Conquest Advisors. The Department of Health and Human Services overseen by Kennedy said the move was within its legal and regulatory authority and reflects the agency's move toward clinical-guided decision making, a department spokesperson said. HHS will continue to rely on the work of expert panels, including ACIP, he said, noting that the committee will be meeting this month. The meeting agenda will be released in accordance with prior practice. Determinations on coverage are up to insurance providers, the spokesperson said. The CDC has previously recommended the COVID shot for everyone aged 6 months and older. 'AWAITING CLARITY' "This whole thing is so murky," said an ACIP member who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It's very unclear whose decision is final." Infectious Diseases Society of America President Dr. Tina Tan said the conflicting COVID vaccine guidance could cause "significant confusion among medical professionals and the public." Dr. Matthew Zahn, an Orange County, California, public health official at OC Health Care Agency who serves as a liaison to the CDC's advisory panel, said: "We're all awaiting clarity." "It's going to be important to understand how these vaccines are insured," Zahn said. "Specifically, if ultimately there is a recommendation for high-risk populations to be vaccinated, how that is interpreted by insurance companies and thus, how providers can recommend it." Zahn expects CDC to clarify its guidance in the weeks ahead, though he could not comment on whether that will be at the ACIP meeting. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that pediatric infectious disease expert Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos, a CDC official who helped oversee the expert panel on COVID vaccines, told colleagues she was leaving her post as she was "no longer able to help the most vulnerable members" of the U.S. population. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists raised concerns on May 27 that the HHS decision not to recommend COVID vaccines during pregnancy would make it harder for pregnant women to get the shot "despite the clear and definitive evidence demonstrating its benefit." The Affordable Care Act generally requires insurers to cover vaccines that are listed on ACIP's vaccine schedule, according to the CDC's website. Narrowing coverage without knowing what ACIP recommends could put insurers at risk, Popovian said. "It's a liability," he said, adding that insurers need clarity on what they will be required to cover. A source familiar with plans for the meeting said the panel is expected to consider and vote on COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming autumn and winter season, adding that the panel had been leaning toward narrowing its recommendations. The advisory panel has yet to receive an agenda for the upcoming meeting, the source said, and it is unclear whether Kennedy would override any deviation from his announced policy.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Canada's Ontario province reports death of child from measles
Toronto: An infant infected with measles has died in southwestern Ontario, Canada, the province's chief medical officer of health said in a statement on Thursday. The death was the first caused by the contagious disease in Canada in 2025. "An infant, born prematurely and infected with measles, has tragically passed away in southwestern Ontario. The infant contracted the virus before birth from their mother, who had not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine," said Kieran Moore, the province's CMO of health. "While measles may have been a contributing factor in both the premature birth and death, the infant also faced other serious medical complications unrelated to the virus," Moore added. No more personal or medical details about the infant's death were shared out of respect for the family's privacy. Canada has seen an increase in measles cases this year, with more reported in the first two months of 2025 than all of last year. The disease has been considered eliminated in the country since 1998. Measles, which poses a risk to infants, is one of the most contagious diseases and can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, premature birth and death, in rare cases, the statement said. "Since October 28, 2024, Ontario has reported a cumulative total of 2,009 measles cases linked to an outbreak that began in New Brunswick," Moore said in the statement, adding that the vast majority of cases were among those who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. The country reported a total of 146 measles cases last year, according to government data. Moore also said that everyone who is unvaccinated is at risk, and urged "everyone, but especially those who may become pregnant, to ensure they have received two doses of the MMR vaccine, which will protect both a parent and baby." As of Sunday, the United States had reported 1,088 cases this year, crossing the 1,000-case mark for the first time in five years. The outbreak in Texas has led to the deaths of two children.
Economic Times
6 hours ago
- Economic Times
Deadly brain-eating amoeba kills Texas woman: how to be safe?
What is Naegleria fowleri? Naegleria fowleri is a free-living, single-celled amoeba found in warm freshwater environments worldwide, such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, and poorly maintained pools. It is commonly called the 'brain-eating amoeba' because it can cause a fatal brain infection. How do people get infected? Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the nose, usually during swimming, diving, or nasal irrigation with contaminated water. Drinking contaminated water does not cause infection. What are the symptoms? Early symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include stiff neck, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and coma. Death usually occurs within 5 days of symptom onset. How common are infections? Infections are extremely rare, with fewer than 10 cases reported annually in the U.S. over the past five decades Can the infection be treated? Treatment options are limited and often unsuccessful. Some experimental therapies, such as miltefosine, have shown promise if administered early, but survival remains rare. How can infection be prevented? Use only distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled tap water for nasal irrigation. Avoid submerging your head in warm freshwater, especially during the summer months. The Science Behind Naegleria fowleri Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A 71-year-old Texas woman died after contracting a rare but deadly infection caused by the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri . According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the woman used untreated tap water from her RV's supply for nasal irrigation, a practice that allowed the amoeba to enter her body through her days, she developed severe neurological symptoms, including headache, fever, confusion, and seizures. Despite rapid medical intervention, she succumbed to the infection just eight days after symptoms began. The CDC stresses that such infections are extremely rare but almost always fatal, with only four survivors among 164 reported U.S. cases from 1962 to fowleri is a thermophilic (heat-loving) amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater environments, particularly during summer months. It exists in three life stages: cyst (dormant and resistant), flagellate (transient and mobile), and trophozoite (active and feeding).The trophozoite stage is the infectious form, capable of invading the nasal passages and migrating to the brain via the olfactory nerve, where it causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).The amoeba is classified as a free-living organism, meaning it does not require a host to survive. Instead, it feeds on bacteria and organic matter in the environment. While most exposures do not result in infection, when the amoeba enters the nose, it can rapidly cause severe brain inflammation and tissue destruction, leading to death in nearly all fowleri's ability to adapt to various environments and its near-universal presence in warm freshwater underscores the importance of safe water practices, especially for activities that involve nasal exposure.
