Health authorities investigate a possible massive measles contagion at a Shakira concert in the United States

The New Jersey State Health Department has initiated a health investigation after detecting a possible mass exposure to measles During the concert of Colombian singer Shakira last Thursday, May 15. The event took place at the East Rutherford Metlife stadium, the largest enclosure in the New York Metropolitan Area, with the ability to about 82,000 attendees.

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The alert was issued on Tuesday after confirming that A person infected with the measles virus attended the concertwhich is part of the international artist tour Women no longer cry. According to the authorities, the affected person resides outside the state of New Jersey, but was present at the stadium between 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and 01:00 on Fridaythe time interval in which the event was held and the public’s departure occurred.

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Although so far no new cases have been detected in the state, The risk of infection is real, given the high transmission capacity of the measles virus, considered one of the most contagious that exist. The virus spreads through the respiratory secretions expelled when speaking, coughing or sneezing, which makes any massive event a high -risk scenario if an infected person is presented.

The danger of infection

The Department of Health has urged all the people who attended the concert and who They are not vaccinated or have measles compatible symptoms to contact your doctor before physically attending a clinic or emergency center. This would avoid any type of secondary propagation. Measles is not only highly infectious, but also can cause serious complicationsespecially in young children, immunosuppressed or not vaccinated people.

Measles symptoms include high fever, coughing, nasal secretion, conjunctivitis (red and inflamed eyes), throat pain and, subsequently, a characteristic red rashes that extends through the body. These symptoms usually appear between 10 and 14 days after contact With the virus, so it is expected that, if there are infections, they begin to demonstrate between the end of May and the beginning of June.

More cases of measles in the country

The United States currently crosses A worrying rebound of measles cases. Since the beginning of March, the country has registered several outbreaks, being Texas the main focus. Federal health authorities have reiterated the importance of vaccination, stressing that two doses of the triple viral vaccine offer a protection of approximately 97 % against the disease.

Shakira’s tour has attracted thousands of fans throughout the countrywhich could make the traceability of the case difficult if it is a propagation. New Jersey health authorities are in coordination with the relevant organisms to monitor the situation.

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The successful tour of the singer

The tour Women no longer cry Shakira has been a resounding success since its inception, marking The expected return of the Colombian artist to the great stages After several years. With entries exhausted in the main cities of the United States and Latin America, the tour celebrates female empowerment and the launch of its last homonymous album. His passage through the Metlife stadium in New Jersey, one of the largest enclosures in the country, reaffirmed his status as one of the most influential figures of Latin pop worldwide.