Thousands of people may have been exposed to measles in New Jersey after attending a sold-out Shakira concert last week, health officials said.
An out-of-state resident infected with the highly contagious virus attended the “Whenever, Wherever” singer’s May 15 show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, the state’s Department of Health announced Tuesday.
The person, whose exact seating in the stadium was not shared, was at the venue from 7:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. the following morning. Anyone who visited the stadium, which has a seating capacity of 82,500, during those hours may have been exposed to the virus, which can be especially dangerous for children, resulting in respiratory and neurologic complications and death.
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“The virus spreads easily through the air when someone coughs or sneezes and can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person,” the Health Department said.
No additional cases associated with the individual had been identified as of Tuesday. A Health Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment Thursday on where the person was seated and whether new cases have since been identified.
Health officials are encouraging residents to get up to date on their vaccinations and be aware of the virus’ symptoms. These include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes and a rash that usually appears between three and five days after symptoms begin.
Anyone who suspects exposure or illness is asked to call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department to prevent potential spread.
“Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection,” the Health Department said.
The health advisory comes as the U.S. faces its second-largest case count of the virus ― which was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 ― in 25 years.
As of last week, there have been 1,024 confirmed measles cases and three related deaths in 31 states so far this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The vast majority of cases, 96%, have involved people not vaccinated or with an unknown vaccination status. Of those hospitalized, most have been under the age of 5.