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What you need to know about the Measles outbreak: Watch
Cases of the measles are on the rise, but many doctors have never treated a case. Here’s what you should know.
- Anyone who was at the stadium in East Rutherford from 7:30 p.m. through 1 a.m. may have been exposed to the virus
- Symptoms could develop as late as June 6, health officials said
- Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a rash that usually appears between three and five days after symptoms begin.
A person who attended a Shakira concert at MetLife Stadium on May 15 was infected with measles and may have spread the highly contagious virus at the event, health officials said Tuesday.
Anyone who was at the stadium in East Rutherford from 7:30 p.m. through 1 a.m. may have been exposed to the virus, according to the state Department of Health.
Although viruses tend to spread more quickly indoors, measles can live in an airspace for up to two hours and is still highly transmissible, especially among the unvaccinated. No measles cases associated with the concert have been reported, but symptoms could develop as late as June 6, health officials said.
Anyone who suspects they have measles should call their health care provider ahead of time so doctors and nurses can set up a special treatment section to limit any potential spread, health officials said Tuesday.
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The state Department of Health released little information about the infected concert goer, including where they sat or what entrance and exit they used.
The highly-anticipated concert drew tens of thousands of fans to East Rutherford. It was the first of back-to-back Shakira concerts at the stadium.
Measles symptoms
Only three measles cases have been reported among New Jersey residents this year — all from the same Bergen County household. The U.S. has seen more than 1,000 cases, the largest amount in recent years.
Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a rash that usually appears between three and five days after symptoms begin. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose since most doctors in the U.S. have never treated a case. Measles was considered eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, about 40 years after a vaccine was developed.
About 96% of those infected had not been vaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been three confirmed deaths nationwide in 2025.
The MetLife case was the second measles incident in New Jersey last week. On May 12, a passenger with measles spent several hours at Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal B.
