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Boston Globe
17-07-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
What to know about measles when traveling
Advertisement Staying safe in airports, on airplanes, and in crowded areas Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up One problem with measles is not only that it spreads so efficiently, but also that it hangs in the air and remains infectious for a couple of hours. It can also survive on surfaces. So you don't have to be in the room or on the bus with the sick person. The other problem is that the most infectious period begins before the signature rash appears — people who are coming down with measles often have extremely runny noses, and yes, there's measles virus in the mucous, as well as in their breath and their coughs and sneezes. Those who are vulnerable might consider masks in airports, airplanes, and other crowded circumstances, which also protect against other infections. Those at highest risk — unvaccinated and immunocompromised people — should think carefully about avoiding crowds, especially indoors. Advertisement Good hand washing is also always a good idea while traveling and helps protect you against more than measles. Consider your route and destination For domestic travel, the highest risk areas are Texas and nearby states, but cases have been reported in other states, including California, Florida, and New York. In May, the New Jersey Department of Health sent out an alert about a measles exposure from a 'non-NJ measles case' at Newark Liberty International Airport. Internationally, measles continues to be a problem in many countries; the CDC has a list of the top 10, which includes India and Romania, but cases have been reported all over Europe, and the CDC recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated before traveling to any international destination (a country-by-country list is available). Be sure you're immune The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine cannot be given if you are pregnant, immunocompromised, or have recently had certain other vaccines. It also cannot be given to infants under 6 months. Anyone else who needs a vaccine should get it at least two weeks before traveling. Adults can find out whether they're immune by getting a measles titer checked (a blood test), though anyone born in the United States before 1957 is assumed to have had measles, and therefore developed immunity, whether they know it or not (that's how infectious it is). Adults who have had two doses of the MMR vaccine can assume they are immune. But some adults born between 1963 and 1967 got a different, less effective vaccine; people born through 1989 may have gotten the right vaccine, but only a single dose. If you know you were vaccinated, but aren't sure whether you had the two doses, you can have your titer checked, or just choose to get an additional dose. Advertisement Consider early vaccination for children For children, the first MMR dose is normally given at age 1, but if you're traveling with a child who is at least 6 months old, they can get the first dose early and then get another when they turn 1 (they will end up getting a total of three doses since they still need two doses at and after age 1 to count as fully vaccinated). In the normal vaccination schedule, children who get the first MMR at 1 get their second MMR at 4 to 6 years, but in fact, children who have had that first dose can get the second as early as 28 days after the first, and they will then be fully protected. Similarly, an unvaccinated older child or adolescent (or adult) can get the second dose starting 28 days after the first. This all means that the vaccination process should start at least six weeks before travel. So, the ideal is to have received two doses before travel (two doses are 97 percent effective at preventing measles). But even those who have time to get only a single dose should have significant protection against developing measles, and against severe illness. What to do if you know you've been exposed If you know you've been exposed to measles while traveling, let a local health authority know right away. There are situations in which vaccines or immune globulin may be offered, especially to protect people at high risk, but this must be done promptly. Do your doctor (and everyone in the waiting room) a favor: Warn the office before you come in that there's a risk of measles, so they can take precautions. And similarly, if anyone gets sick after a trip, let your doctor know about the recent travel. Advertisement Is measles really a serious disease? Yes, measles still kills more than 100,000 people worldwide every year. It is a miserable disease, with high fevers and significant discomfort, and it can result in permanent neurological damage or lead to a delayed — and fatal — degenerative disease. Many children have been hospitalized during the Texas outbreak; the infection is particularly dangerous in pregnancy, to infants and toddlers, and to anyone with a compromised immune system. 'We have been able to prevent measles for 60 years and yet we're still having this conversation,' said Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease physician in New York City and author of the 2025 book, 'Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children's Health.' 'We brought this on ourselves,' he said.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lyme disease is on the rise; how you can protect your child, family from Lyme disease
Lyme disease season begins with the spring and summer months — and with confirmed cases of Lyme disease now on the rise, particularly in younger children — parents in New Jersey need to know the symptoms of a Lyme disease infection and steps you can ten to prevent contacting it. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, Lyme disease is caused by tick bites but isn't spread person-to-person. The Lyme disease-causing ticks thrive in woodsy areas, such as much of New Jersey. "Infected ticks are found most commonly in forested areas in the northeastern, north-central, and mid-Atlantic states, and in smaller areas within Pacific Coast states," read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Lyme disease website. "The black-legged tick (or deer tick) transmits infection in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central United States." Lyme disease can be a very painful condition that worsens as time passes. Most people bitten by a Lyme disease-causing tick will notice a rash developing a few days after being bitten. The CDC also says the onset of Lyme disease symptoms also include chills, fatigue, fevers, headaches, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. The rash can form a bulls eye shape, and can appear anywhere on the body. Arthritis, dizziness, facial palsy, heart palpitations, nerve pain (along with shooting pains in hands and feet) along with several headaches are some of the symptoms if you allow Lyme disease to go unchecked for a month or more. The New Jersey Department of Health advises you to avoid wooded areas with dense shrubs and leaf litter, wearing protective clothing, using insect repellents, perform tick checks and mowing lawns frequently will help you avoid tick bites and Lyme disease. "After spending time in tick-infested areas, ask a partner to check you for ticks in areas on your body that you can't see very well," advised the Harvard Medical School. "The common bite areas are the back of the knee, the groin, under the arms, under the breasts in women, behind the ears, and at the back of the neck. "The tick species that transmits Lyme disease is about the size of a sesame seed." You will need an antibiotic prescription to treat Lyme disease, and the most commonly used Lyme disease antibiotics are amoxicillin, cefuroxime axetil, or doxycycline. Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region. This article originally appeared on Lyme disease is in New Jersey; how you can protect your child, family
Metro
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Shakira completely stacks it on stage after concerning health warning for show
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Shakira has been captured on camera suffering a massively awkward fall while performing. A few months ago, the Colombian singer, 48, kicked off her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, her first in seven years. However last week some fans were left on edge when a health warning was issued alerting them that measles may have spready at one of her concerts. Following her show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on May 15, the New Jersey Department of Health issued an alert after someone who attended Shakira's concert may have exposed numerous staff and attendees to the disease. A few days on, Shakira has found herself in focus again after stacking it on stage. During her show at the Bell Centre in Montreal, she was performing her 2001 hit Whenever, Wherever when she took a stumble. A fan posted a clip of the moment on social media, which showed Shakira walking away from her microphone stand, raising her arms in the air and bowing to the crowd. As she threw her head down to dance and raised her arms again, she swung her hips a little too hard and went flying to the ground. Looking shocked for a moment, she recovered quickly and jumped back up and continued signing and clapping for her fans to join in. After watching the moment, many rushed to support the singer. 'That's called: Going down with style,' Clarisa posted on TikTok. 'Not Shakira falling and still slaying,' Luna shared. 'I like how when she makes a mistake she just laughs and carries on,' SV added. Since starting her tour, Shakira has been forced to cancel two shows. In February she was rushed to hospital with abdominal pain and couldn't perform a show in Lima, Peru. 'The doctors whose care I am currently under have communicated that I am not in good enough condition to perform this evening,' she announced on social media. 'I am very sad to not be able to take to the stage today, I've been looking forward to reuniting with my incredible fans in Peru. She later added: 'Thank you all for your loving messages. You give me so much strength!! I love you with all my heart.' A few days later a show in Medellin, Colombia, was canned due to safety concerns. Organisers announced that a stage roof malfunction at the venue posed a potential safety hazard and the show was unable to go ahead. Last year Shakira spoke about returning to the spotlight following her marriage breakdown to Spanish football player Gerard Piqué, 38, with whom she shares sons, Milan, 12, and Sasha, 10. More Trending 'For a long time, I put my career on hold, to be next to Gerard, so he could play football. There was a lot of sacrifices for love,' she told The Sunday Times. She went on to explain she focused on transforming her 'pain into creativity, frustration into productivity, anger into passion, vulnerability into resilience'. 'There were so many pieces of my life that crumbled in front of my eyes, and I had to rebuild myself in a way, picking up the bones from the floor and putting them all together. And the glue that kept it all together was music,' she added. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Jennifer Lopez slammed for 'desperate' stunt on stage at the American Music Awards MORE: Dick Van Dyke shares rare insight into the devastating downside of living until almost 100 MORE: Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus look loved-up during first outing as couple
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Shakira Concert Might've Sparked a Measles Outbreak. Do You Need a Booster?
Shakira's Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour has been drawing massive crowds and electrifying stadiums across the country—but her recent stop at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on May 15 made headlines for more than just the music. The New Jersey Department of Health issued a warning that an individual infected with measles attended the event, potentially exposing tens of thousands of concertgoers to the highly contagious virus. Measles, once considered eliminated in the United States, is making a concerning comeback (often due to gaps in vaccination) with over 1,000 cases reported nationwide in 2025—the highest in nearly 25 years. Outbreaks are especially risky in crowded public spaces, like concerts, airports or schools where exposure can be hard to track. Earlier this year, two unvaccinated school-age children in Texas died from the virus. More from Flow Space Is It Still Worth It to Get the HPV Vaccine If You're 35 or Older? So, how serious is the measles virus? Should you get a measles booster even if you were vaccinated as a child? And just how effective are they? Let's dive in. Measles is a highly contagious virus which can cause life-threatening illness to anyone who is not protected against exposure. It spreads through airborne droplets when someone coughs or sneezes; you can catch it by simply being in the same room as an infected person—even up to two hours after they've left. Plus, measles symptoms don't appear until 10 to 14 days after exposure. There's no treatment to get rid of an established measles infection, but over-the-counter fever reducers or vitamin A may help with symptoms. 'Measles is so concerning because it is highly contagious—much more than COVID or the flu—so you can be contagious before you have any symptoms,' Dr. Neha Pathak, chief physician editor of WebMD, tells Flow Space. 'The initial symptoms often start just like a bad cold—high fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. Then, you can also develop the tell-tale rash —a red, blotchy rash that usually spreads from the face down the body.' Other symptoms can include a fever or Koplik spots, which are tiny white spots in the mouth. In more serious cases, it can cause pneumonia, brain swelling (encephalitis), blindness and even be fatal. 'The measles vaccine is extremely effective,' says Pathak. 'About 97% after two doses. It's one of the most protective vaccines we have. One dose is still highly effective at around 93%.' It is generally given in two doses, typically, the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at four to six years of age. In people who receive both doses, contracting measles is extremely rare—even during outbreaks. If you were born between 1957 and 1989, you may have received only one dose of the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella), which may not offer full protection. Keep in mind that you could expose vulnerable loved ones. Grandchildren, aging parents or immunocompromised friends could be at greater risk if you unknowingly carry the virus. And your immunity might have waned. While measles infection often provides lifelong immunity, vaccine-based protection may diminish over time, especially for those who only got one dose. 'If you were vaccinated after 1968, you're likely protected,' says Pathak. 'The measles vaccine is extremely effective at providing lifelong immunity.' However, if you're unsure, check your vaccination status with your healthcare provider to discuss what your options are. You can also ask your healthcare provider for a blood test to check immunity if you're unsure if you've been vaccinated. Staying measles-aware isn't just about personal protection, it's about safeguarding your family and your community. If you're your vaccination status is unclear, speak with your healthcare provider, practice good hygiene in public spaces and avoid exposure if you hear of local outbreaks—especially in crowded venues.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials Warn of Measles Exposure at Shakira's New Jersey Concert
New Jersey officials have warned that someone from out of state attended a Shakira concert while infected with measles The state's Department of Health shared that although cases have not yet been connected with the show, symptoms could develop as late as June 6 There have been three deaths and more than 1,000 people infected by the wildly contagious virus in the U.S. so far this yearA concert-goer attended a recent Shakira concert while infectious with measles, traveling from out-of-state to the singer's recent stadium show in New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Health issued a warning May 20 alerting residents of 'a newly identified case of measles in a non-NJ resident who attended a concert in NJ while infectious.' The sickened individual attended Shakira's Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour on May 15, and the agency warned that anyone who was at MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, between the hours of 7:30 pm until 1 am, could have been exposed. As the U.S. Centers for DIsease Control points out, the virus is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes; the virus stays in the air for up to two hours. The show was sold out, and MetLife Stadium has a capacity of more than 82,000 people. Although the NJDOH notes that at this time, no new cases have been associated with attendance at the show, symptoms could develop as late as June 6. According to the most recent data from the CDC, there have been 1,024 confirmed cases of measles across 14 outbreaks this year. The majority of cases are in children, with 303 cases in children under 5, and 388 cases in kids between ages 5 and 19. The CDC says 96% of those sickened are unvaccinated, or their vaccine status is unknown. The agency says best protection against the wildly contagious illness is 'two doses of the MMR vaccine' — which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. The first dose is administered between 12 and 15 months of age; the second shot comes between 4 and 6 years. However, some adults may not remember getting the shots — or if they were born before 1957, traditional guidelines considered them immune. Measles was so widespread before the vaccine's introduction in 1963, medical professionals assume most people were exposed to it, resulting in some immunity. Measles 'isn't just a little rash,' the CDC says, warning that it can be 'dangerous,' especially for babies and young children. One in 5 people who get the virus will be hospitalized, with symptoms including high fever, a cough, red, runny eyes and nose. It can cause 'cause severe health complications,' the CDC says, including pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death. Three people have died in the U.S. from the measles so far this year. Multiple large-scale studies have found that vaccines are safe. There is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Read the original article on People
