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 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).
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. More Trending
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.
Metro has contacted representatives for Shakira for comment.
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Wales Online
14 hours ago
- Wales Online
I hid from the world when cancer changed my body until dancing transformed my life
I hid from the world when cancer changed my body until dancing transformed my life Despite radiotherapy, appointments, exhaustion and pain, Rachael Anderson never missed a training session Rachael Anderson could no longer recognise herself, after her devastating breast cancer diagnosis in 2021 (Image: Rachael Anderson ) After being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37, Rachael Anderson withdrew from the world—overwhelmed by the changes to her body and mind. Looking in the mirror became difficult, and the idea of facing others felt impossible. She certainly never imagined herself as a dancer. Yet four years after her initial diagnosis, sandwiched between her dance instructor Louise Evans and fellow dancer Emma Llewellyn, Rachael has found the courage not only to dance, but to share her story. The mum-of-two's path with Creazione Dance Company in Caerphilly didn't begin with choreography or costumes. It started as a search for healing—physically and emotionally. After completing her treatment and ringing the bell to mark the end of her breast cancer treatment on World Cancer Day 2022—a year after her diagnosis—Rachael shared her experience on Facebook. That post would change everything. Among the responses was a message from Louise, whom Rachael knew from previous fitness classes. Louise had a proposal. "She invited me back to her classes," Rachael recalls. "At first, I wasn't sure I could do it. Article continues below "T o be honest, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I hid from the world, I was a bit embarrassed. And I know I shouldn't be, but it's one of those things. Your body changes, your mindset changes, everything does." Chemotherapy had taken Rachael's hair. Steroids had changed her body. "I didn't recognise myself in the mirror," she says. "I didn't see the old Rachael anymore." Rachael shared that she has seen "15 versions" of herself over the last few years (Image: Rachael Anderson ) Despite her hesitation, Louise persisted. She told Rachael about a charity event that Creazione Dance Company was organising in collaboration with Welsh Ice for breast cancer. Louise was bringing together a group of "non-dancers" to perform Latin dance in support of the cause. It was a leap into the unknown—especially as Rachael didn't know anyone else in the group. But she showed up. "I don't know how I walked through those doors, I didn't know anyone at the time, but I thought, 'I need to do this,'" she explains. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here There she met Emma Llewellyn and seven other women - all of whom were there for their own personal reasons. "I joined Creazione after I had my own health problems," Emma shared candidly. "I had a mini-stroke, so decided to start at the gym and take care of myself a little bit more. When I lost my dad to lung cancer, not long after, I needed something more. Creazione was recommended to me, so I decided to have a look. That's when I met Louise." Meeting Louise, for Emma, was like meeting someone who truly saw her. "She just listened. I wasn't just another number to get through the door. When she mentioned putting together a group of non-dancers, I wanted in. My daughter dances formation and I'd always admired that. I never thought I could do it myself." Rachael said steroids and chemotherapy changed her hair and body (Image: Rachael Anderson ) And then, she met Rachael. "I probably talked her ear off the first day," Emma laughs. "She hasn't gotten rid of me! Honestly, when I learnt about her story, I just found it so incredibly inspiring. "When my dad was alive, he was a really positive person right to the very end. He went ziplining, he tried to tick off everything on his bucket list and Rachael reminded me of that. Of not letting this illness define them." As rehearsals went on, the group soon felt less like a class and more like a family. But just as the bond between them deepened, something changed. In July, just five months after getting the all-clear for breast cancer, Rachael began suffering from intense, frequent headaches. "There wasn't a lot of time between me ringing the bell and my secondary diagnosis," Rachael says. "At first I thought it could have been something to do with my job. I am a civil servant so work in an office in front of a computer most days. I just thought that it could've been something to do with that." However, as the migraines grew consistent and increasingly more painful, Rachael knew that something was wrong. "I do live with pain, but I have learnt mask it very well. I just take paracetamol because I can't handle very strong painkillers. But there were training sessions leading up to the fundraiser where I would be balling my eyes out because the headaches were that painful. "It was daily and it was to the point where I'd have a headache and have to stop whatever I was doing, go into a dark room and just lie there. "My licence was even taken off me and I wasn't allowed to drive. No amount of paracetamol would stop it. I even tried co-codamol, and like I said, I usually don't take strong painkillers. Nothing touched it. Nothing I did stopped the pain at all. "Not many people took me seriously. I remember asking my partner once, 'Would you just massage my head?' And he was like, 'For a headache?' I bring that up a lot now, he feels very guilty." Rachael and her fellow dancers at Creazione raised money for Breast Cancer - but this was just the beginning (Image: Emma Llewellyn ) Eventually, Rachael went to the opticians - the first port of call when one experience migraines - however, Rachael says that she knew it had nothing to do with her eyes. "As soon as I went to the opticians and they said, 'You going to have to go to the eye hospital' I was like, 'This is nothing to do with my eyes. I know it's not.' That's when I decided to go to A&E. "The doctor couldn't believe I came in 'just for a headache,'" she says. "But I stood my ground. I knew something was wrong. I asked for scans." The results were devastating. "He came back looking ashamed. He wouldn't meet my eyes. He just looked down and said: 'I'm really sorry. You have a tumour in your brain. It looks like the cancer has spread. It's now secondary.'" What followed was a whirlwind: an urgent mask fitting, and then radiotherapy to her head. All the while, Rachael kept dancing. "In spite of everything—appointments, exhaustion, pain—she never missed a single training session," Emma says. "Not one," Louise confirms. "Honestly, I wouldn't have made it through without Louise, Creazione and of course all the girls," Rachael says emotionally. "They became my family, and that's what kept me going. My two children are my priority, but this team, this community, helped me fight through the darkest days. At that point in her journey, Rachael reflected on how much she had changed. "I think I've been about 15 different versions of myself," she said. "I've gone from being a married mum, to going through divorce, battling breast cancer, finding a new partner, starting to dance, then facing secondary cancer… with each challenge, I've had to shift who I am and how I see the world. "I had met my partner just about a year before my diagnosis, and he stood by me through everything. I told him he could walk away—I even insisted, under duress—but he refused to leave. He stayed. "At the end of the day, I'm not the same person I was. I still struggle with things like my weight. I look in the mirror and I don't see the Rachael I saw 10 years ago. But we all change. And slowly, I'm learning to like the new Rachael." The charity event that Rachael joined marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life, one where dance and community would become the foundations of her strength. Rachael explained: "After we did that fundraiser, we had a bit of a gap but we all found ourselves missing each other. We'd built something special." Encouraged by Louise, the team decided to reunite, and transitioned from charity events to competitive dance, starting at the famous Blackpool Tower. "The step from charity to competition was massive," says Louise. "Competing at the prestigious Blackpool Tower Ballroom was a huge step up—it was a huge change and a whole new level for us. But I believed in the girls. I knew they could do it. So we got our heads together and made it happen. "We were training two, sometimes three times a week. I've worked with other dance teams before, I have been a dance instructor for 35 years, but none have trained as hard or as consistently as our senior team. They really wanted it. And I think that drive came from the fact that we all shared one vision, one goal. "A lot of that heart came from what Rachael has gone through—and continues to go through. But it wasn't just her. It was Emma's story, too. And others joined us for so many reasons: mental health struggles, loneliness, the need for connection, for escapism, for friendship. Everyone brought something personal, and that's what made this team so special." In 2024, it was time for the World Championships in Blackpool. " It's very expensive to go. We're talking thousands of pounds, dresses are thousands of pounds. We fundraised the travel costs, made the dresses ourselves on a short budget… nothing like this is ever cheap," Louise recalls. However, Rachael faced another devastating challenge in the lead-up to the competition. The possibility that her cancer had spread from her head to her spine became a very real and frightening prospect. "I was in a lot of pain," Rachael shared. "The chemo seemed to have ruined my bones, and I had constant pain in my hips. Then they found something on my spine." Just days before the team was set to travel to Blackpool, Rachael's doctors had to give her the medical approval to go—and to dance. Against all odds, she did both. Emma marvels, "I don't know how she gets on the floor sometimes, but she does." The team's hard work and determination paid off when they placed fourth at the World Championships—a huge achievement for everyone involved. Rachael (left) dancing with her partner Kerry in Blackpool Tower (Image: Emma Llewellyn ) Thankfully, in the spring of 2025, Rachael received some long-awaited good news. "We found out it wasn't cancer," she explained. "But my spine is wearing away from all the treatments. When I had my breast cancer treatments, I was also part of a trial drug programme. You never know how those drugs will affect you—and in my case, they think the trial drugs weakened my bones. So, while it wasn't cancer, it's still taken a toll." "Between placing fourth and Rachael's news, it was a massive confidence boost," Louise said. Spurred on by their progress, the team set their sights on the Welsh Alliance Championships in May 2025 — a competition they went on to win, marking a major milestone in their journey. Creizione Dance's Latin Senior team placed fourth at their first competitive event at Blackpool Tower (Image: Emma Llewellyn ) Since then, the team has only grown in strength, expanding into multiple formation teams. "We started with just one senior formation team of eight," Louise says. "Now, we have 25 members and three different teams... but it feels like we've only just begun." Rachael's journey hasn't been easy, and her battle with cancer is ongoing. "I have head scans every three months to monitor the tumour and make sure it's not growing," Rachael shared. "After my last scan, because it's remained stable, they've now moved me to scans every four months. It might not sound like a big difference, but to me, it's huge—it's one less scan a year. "They're still scanning my spine regularly, though, just to make sure whatever's there doesn't develop into something more serious. It could be anything—osteoporosis, arthritis—they're just keeping a close eye on it." Yet through it all, dance has been a constant source of healing, confidence, and community. For Louise, Creazione's mission has always been rooted in building a supportive environment where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together through the power of dance. "We've always been about the community," Louise explains. The Senior Latin Team have gone onto win the Welsh Alliance Competition - an incredible achievement (Image: Emma Llewellyn ) Creazione Dance Company, which has been thriving in Caerphilly for the past 20 years, began as a community-focused initiative to get young people active through dance. Over time, the company has expanded its offerings to cater to all ages—from toddlers to seniors—and all skill levels. Today, the studio is home to a wide range of styles, including street, ballet, and contemporary dance. The company has carved out a particular niche in Latin American dance—think Strictly Come Dancing, with Paso Doble, Salsa, and more. It's this energetic and expressive style that Rachael and Emma have come to embody with pride. For Rachael, dance has become an essential part of her healing journey. "It's funny, because I hate getting dressed up and doing all the costumes," she admits. "But now, I love having my make up done. The first time I had my hair and makeup done for a competition, I couldn't believe the compliments. So I do like that side of it because I never wear makeup normally." And although her journey is far from over, Rachael's story continues to inspire those around her. Emma, has seen first-hand how dancing has not only transformed her own life but also brought together a group of people with similar struggles. "We've all been through so much," Emma shares. "And with everything Rachael's been through, she's still the first one knocking on the door, encouraging us to keep going... It just shows that you can live with it and do things. "She's inspired all of us, and that's what makes this so powerful. We've found a family here, and that's something I'll always be grateful for." Looking ahead, the team is preparing for the next level of competition, with new members joining in, including men. The team is set to compete in the British Championships in Blackpool later this year, as well as the World Championships in February 2026. "It's ambitious, but we've come so far. And I believe in this team," Louise says. As the dance company continues to grow, Louise hopes more people will find the kind of healing and connection that Rachael, Emma and so many other's have discovered. " I think that it's important for our community to know that there are groups out there— partnerships and programs that you can get involved in — that can genuinely enhance your mental health and give you more of a positive outlook on whatever it is you're going through. "Whether it is cancer like Rachel or something else... strokes, heart attacks, divorces— there's lots of support out there," she says. "And for me, dance is a really good outlet for expressing yourself showing feeling emotion and being allowed to do that, with a group of people who are likeminded." Article continues below
The Independent
16 hours ago
- The Independent
How to actually get a good night's sleep
Getting a good night of shut eye can often seem like a Herculean task. Smartphones provide an enticing distraction — whether you're laughing at a funny YouTube video or texting with friends — and the noise and light pollution can interrupt our body clocks. But, there's no one secret to perfect sleep, and everyone is different. Some people can fall asleep in an instant (even if that seems unfair), while others stare at the ceiling for hours. 'As a nation we are not getting enough sleep,' Dr. Wayne Giles, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Population Health, previously cautioned. But, what is enough, why is it important, and are there rules we can follow to get it? What is a good night's sleep? People need continuous hours of restful sleep. The American Heart Association says you want multiple cycles of all five stages of sleep, advancing into deep sleep. The two main stages of sleep are rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM. REM sleep is thought to aid in the development of the central nervous system and protect against dementia. The amount of sleep each person needs will vary and changes as we age, but adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. Otherwise, you will feel tired throughout the week. About a third of U.S. adults don't get enough sleep and many older adults don't sleep well. Sleep disorders are common, but sleep can also be disrupted by chronic health conditions. 'Older adults have different sleep patterns. They tend to sleep more lightly and may wake earlier in the morning,' Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Michelle Drerup said. 'But you still need the same amount of sleep over 24 hours, so if you're sleeping less at night, you might need a nap during the day.' Why do we need it? A good night's sleep can impact memory, adaptability, and brain function. Without enough sleep, symptoms of depression, seizures, high blood pressure, and migraines can worsen. Peoples' immunity is compromised. A lack of sleep can raise our propensity for obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, according to Harvard Medical School. People who don't get enough are also at an increased risk of falls or accidents. Even just one night without sleep can create a prediabetic state in an otherwise healthy person, according to Johns Hopkins University. Three nights without sleep can hurt your heart, a recent study found. 'Sleep influences many aspects of health, including mood, cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and increasingly we recognize it is important for brain health,' Dr. Mark Wu, a professor of neurology, medicine, and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, told The Independent. 'At Hopkins, for example, we have been investigating the connection between sleep and Alzheimer's disease, and the data suggest that poor quality and insufficient sleep can be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.' What can we do to get it? Many experts recommend similar steps — and like all good advice, the hard part is following it consistently. Getting exercise in the morning can help maintain your body's clock. Sticking to a schedule and pre-sleep routine can reinforce your body's sleep-wake cycle, according to Mayo Clinic. If you have trouble sleeping one night, try not to sleep later or nap the next day. You will sleep better that night. Federal health officials also advise people keep their bedroom quiet and cool, and turn off their electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Bright lights can disrupt your body's natural sleep-wake functions, also known as your circadian rhythm. Dr. Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at U.C. Berkeley, said in an email shared with The Independent that the room should be at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Reduce caffeine after lunch and don't drink before bed. Nicotine is also a negative, Wu said. 'Most people can get good sleep, but there are many factors that can influence sleep, like pain, mood disorders like anxiety, depression, stress,' he explained.
NBC News
a day ago
- NBC News
At least 1.7 million eggs recalled as CDC and FDA investigate multistate salmonella outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to at least 1.7 million eggs, according to a news release issued on Saturday. The brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs were distributed by the August Egg Company from Feb. 3 through May 15 to retailers in nine states — California, Nevada, Washington, Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, Illinois, Indiana and Wyoming, per the FDA. In an announcement issued Friday, the Hilmar, California-based distribution company recalled 1.7 million eggs, which have sell-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19 and were sold at retailers including Walmart and Safeway, as well as under many different brands that can be seen here. So far, the outbreak has sickened 79 people in New Jersey, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, Arizona, Washington state and California, the CDC said. At least 21 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. 'This outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported,' the CDC said. 'This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.' Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can make people sick if they consume contaminated food and water, or touch animals, their fecal matter or the areas they live in, according to the CDC. It is 'a leading cause of food-borne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States and worldwide,' causing about 1.35 million infections in the U.S. every year. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps and can start six hours to six days after consumption of the bacteria. Children under five, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems can become seriously ill as a result of contracting salmonella. The CDC is advising anyone who has the recalled eggs in their home to throw them away or return them to the retailer that sold them. Businesses with recalled eggs should not sell or serve them, and should sanitize any item or surface that came into contact with the eggs. The August Egg Company said it began taking its eggs to an 'egg-breaking facility' to pasteurize them and kill pathogens after learning about the salmonella concern. 'August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring,' the company said in a statement. 'We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again.' This isn't the only salmonella outbreak the U.S. is currently grappling with. Last month, the FDA announced a recall of cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales due to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 45 people and hospitalized 16 across 18 states. The FDA's investigation into the cucumbers is ongoing.
