Measles May Have Spread At Popular NJ Concert Venue, Officials Say

NEW JERSEY ? The state of New Jersey says people who attended a Shakira concert on Friday night may have been exposed to measles.

The state's Department of Health posted on Tuesday that someone with measles was at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford from around 7:30 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday.

The person was from out of the state, officials said.

Anyone exposed should watch for symptoms until June 6.

This year so far, cases of measles in New Jersey have had little community spread and have come from those traveling into the New Jersey from out of state.

Nationally, as of Friday, 1,025 cases of measles have been identified in the United States, with 96 percent of those in people who were either unvaccinated, or their status was unknown. Two children and one adult in Texas have been confirmed to have died of the virus.

What To Do

"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," said the state's Health Department on Tuesday. "People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.

"Individuals at risk include those who have not been fully vaccinated or have not had measles in the past.

"MMR vaccine, administered in two doses, is safe and the most effective way to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella. The vaccine is also effective at preventing complications caused by these highly contagious diseases. NJDOH encourages all residents to stay up to date on routine vaccinations, including MMR shots. Anyone traveling internationally should be fully vaccinated before traveling. Infants 6?11 months old should get one dose of the MMR vaccine before travel. Then they should get two more doses after their first birthday."

Herd Immunity Waning?

New Jersey reported a small cluster of cases in February with exposures in Bergen County. The state said the three were all in one household, and that the virus did not spread beyond the group.

"There is no ongoing community spread in NJ," the state said. "Travelers: Make sure you?re up to date on MMR and other routine vaccines."

In March, the state reported another case, saying that person may have exposed others in Newark Airport and then at several Essex and Bergen County locations.

Last month, NJ Spotlight quoted state Health Commissioner Dr. Kaitlan Baston as saying that vaccination rates statewide are close to 92 percent, with some areas showing lower rates (in Ocean County it's 85 percent). Health experts say that 95 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated for MMR ? a vaccine that was first licensed for public use in 1963 ? to prevent widescale spread in an area.

The Americas were declared free of endemic measles by 2016, but suffered a setback two years later due to gaps in vaccines in other countries that led to outbreaks there, scientists say.

See national measles cases and outbreaks (CDC).

Prior Reporting: Measles-Infected Traveler Visited Newark Airport