A MASSIVE health alert has been issued after tens of thousands of people may have been exposed to measles at a packed concert.
Officials are now urging more than 55,000 attendees to monitor for symptoms and check their vaccination records.
The alert was triggered after an individual who is not a resident of New Jersey and attended the May 15 event at MetLife Stadium tested positive for the highly contagious virus.
The individual was inside the venue between 7:30 pm and 1 am during the sold-out Shakira concert.
The New Jersey Department of Health confirmed the case and said it’s unclear where the infected person was seated.
Authorities warned that individuals present at the venue from May 15 at 7:30 pm to May 16 at 1:00 am could have potentially been exposed and may not display symptoms of infection until as late as June 6.
Symptoms of measles include high fever, dry cough, red and watery eyes, and a runny nose.
A rash usually follows within a few days and spreads from the face down to the rest of the body.
Measles can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, and in rare cases, death.
It can also cause miscarriages or premature births if contracted during pregnancy.
As of May 20, no additional measles cases have been reported in New Jersey.
But the incident adds to growing concerns nationwide as measles continues to spread in the US.
More than 1,000 cases have been confirmed across 31 states so far in 2025.
The majority of cases are in children, with 303 cases in children under 5, and 388 cases in children between 5 and 19.
Texas has seen the most cases, with over 700 confirmed and two child deaths this year.
Children under five account for a large portion of recent cases, and nearly a quarter of them required hospitalization.
What to know about measles
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that is transmitted through coughing, sneezing, or close contact with an infected person. The virus has the ability to remain suspended in the air for up to two hours.
Symptoms:
- High fever
- Dry cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Rash (usually starts on the face and spreads downward)
Symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure. The rash typically shows up 3 to 5 days after early symptoms begin.
Complications:
Can include pneumonia, brain swelling (encephalitis), miscarriage, premature birth, and even death, especially in young children and pregnant women.
How it spreads:
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses on Earth. Up to 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to it will get sick. If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.
Cases in the US (2025):
- 1,024 confirmed cases of measles across 14 outbreaks this year
- Cases span 31 states
- Texas has the highest number, with over 700 cases, including two child deaths
- Nearly all infections involve unvaccinated individuals or people with unknown vaccination status
Confirmed measles cases were reported by 31 jurisdictions:
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Vaccine info:
The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is 97% effective after two doses.
Updated by CDC on May 16, 2025
Most of those infected were unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status.
Health experts say the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is 97% effective when both doses are given.
But vaccination rates have dropped in recent years, falling below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.
Only 11 states met that threshold among kindergartners in the last school year.
Federal health officials are warning that if the US sees continuous measles transmission for a year, the country could lose its elimination status.
Before the measles vaccine became available in 1963, the disease was so common that health experts believe nearly everyone was exposed to it, which led to some level of natural immunity in the population.
