Reports about a potential measles exposure at a Shakira concert have been circulating on the internet following the singer’s performance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, last Thursday. Now fans are curious to know more about the illness.
Officers warn people of measles outbreak at Shakira’s concert
The New Jersey Department of Health declared on Tuesday that a non-New Jersey resident attendee of the May 15 concert had measles. The officials urged those who have attended the concert or believe that they have been exposed to the disease to reach out to healthcare providers before visiting any medical office or emergency department. They insisted that people must not go to a medical facility without notifying the staff of the said facility beforehand (via NBC News).
According to Mayo Clinic, Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the virus Morbillivirus hominis. Early symptoms of it include high fever, dry cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes. Given that the concert took place last Thursday, these symptoms of the disease can show up as late as June 6.
Further, a rash often appears on the face about three to five days after the initial symptoms. It then spreads rapidly across the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet. Small, white marks known as Koplik spots also appear inside the mouth of the patient. Someone who has measles can develop pneumonia, diarrhea, and other complications. In some rare cases, blindness, seizures, and inflammation of the brain can also happen.
An airborne disease, measles generally spreads through direct contact with the mouth or nasal secretions. Vaccination and other preventive measures for measles exist, though once the disease develops, there is no specific treatment. What health professionals do instead is treat superinfections and ensure that the patient is hydrated.
Those who are not fully vaccinated or have not have measles before are at risk of infection. In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that measles had been eradicated in the US due to widespread vaccination. However, in recent years, there has reportedly been a resurgence of the disease due to a variety of factors.
Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on ComingSoon.
