Measles exposure warning issued for New Jersey Shakira concert attendees

Health officials warn concertgoers who attended Shakira’s May 15 show at MetLife Stadium about possible measles exposure. — Image credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Entertainment

This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

Exposure risk

A person with measles attended a Shakira concert at MetLife Stadium, which can hold more than 80,000 people.

Rising U.S. cases

More than 1,000 measles cases have been confirmed this year across 30 states, with three reported deaths.

RFK Jr.'s stance

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has questioned the MMR vaccine’s effectiveness and promoted alternative treatments, drawing criticism from medical experts.

Full story

People who attended Shakira’s concert at MetLife Stadium on May 15 are being warned of a potential measles exposure. The New Jersey Department of Health said a person infected with the virus was in the crowd that night.

The individual, who is not a New Jersey resident, was confirmed to have measles and may have exposed thousands of attendees to the disease. MetLife Stadium holds more than 82,000 people.

State urges vaccinations

In response, state health officials are urging all attendees to check their vaccination status and make sure they are up to date on MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunizations. The announcement was made Tuesday, May 20, as part of an official health alert.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incubation period for measles is typically 11 to 12 days. That means anyone who was exposed at the concert may develop symptoms between now and June 6.

What to watch for

Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery red eyes. A rash usually appears a few days after those initial symptoms.

If exposed, health experts recommend masking, isolating, getting tested and contacting infection control teams as a precaution.

RFK Jr. renews vaccine debate

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime skeptic of vaccine mandates, recently drew more attention for his comments about measles prevention.

Rather than advocating for MMR vaccine uptake, Kennedy ordered a search for new measles treatments, according to The New York Times. He recently told Fox News Host Sean Hannity that the MMR vaccine “does not appear to provide maternal immunity,” while citing rare adverse reactions.

One PubMed Central study highlights a case of a 30-year-old woman who developed unilateral optic neuritis after receiving the vaccine. Experts emphasize that such complications are extremely rare.

Measles on the rise nationwide

This warning comes as measles cases surge across the U.S. There have been more than 1,000 confirmed cases reported so far this year, spanning 30 states. Three of those cases have resulted in death.

As of the most recent update, the New Jersey Department of Health says no other confirmed cases tied to the Shakira concert have been identified.

Harry Fogle (Video Editor), Cole Lauterbach (Managing Editor), and Ally Heath (Senior Digital Producer) contributed to this report.

Tags: Celebrities, Concert, Entertainment, Health, Music, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

[KENNEDY FELTON]

A WARNING FOR CONCERTGOERS – PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED A SHAKIRA SHOW IN NEW JERSEY MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO MEASLES.

NEW JERSEY HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY A PERSON INFECTED WITH MEASLES – WHO DOES NOT LIVE IN THE STATE – ATTENDED SHAKIRA’S MAY 15TH SHOW AT METLIFE STADIUM. THE VENUE HOLDS MORE THAN 82,000 PEOPLE. OFFICIALS ARE NOW URGING ATTENDEES TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE UP TO DATE ON THEIR VACCINATIONS.

ACCORDING TO HEALTH EXPERTS, MEASLES USUALLY TAKES 11 TO 12 DAYS TO INCUBATE. IF EXPOSURE OCCURRED AT THE CONCERT, SYMPTOMS COULD DEVELOP ANY TIME BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE 6TH.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE A HIGH FEVER… COUGH… RUNNY NOSE… WATERY RED EYES… AND A RASH THAT TYPICALLY APPEARS A FEW DAYS LATER. IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, HEALTH OFFICIALS RECOMMEND MASKING, ISOLATING, GETTING TESTED, AND CONTACTING YOUR HEALTH PROVIDER.

MEASLES HAS BEEN ON THE RISE IN THE U.S., WITH OVER 1,000 CASES CONFIRMED ACROSS 30 STATES THIS YEAR ALONE. THREE OF THOSE CASES HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH.

AS OF THE LATEST UPDATE, NO ADDITIONAL CASES LINKED TO THE CONCERT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED BY NEW JERSEY OFFICIALS. THEY WARN INDIVIDUALS AT RISK ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY VACCINATED OR HAVE NEVER HAD MEASLES IN THE PAST.

Why this story matters

The potential exposure at a major event like a Shakira concert puts thousands at risk and underscores the importance of timely vaccination and credible health communication — especially as figures like RFK Jr. challenge established vaccine guidance.

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Behind the numbers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2025, there were 1,024 confirmed measles cases across at least 30 U.S. states, exceeding the total of 285 cases reported in 2024. About 96% of 2025's cases are in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. Three deaths and over 128 hospitalizations have occurred nationwide.

Context corner

Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but recent decades have seen outbreaks due to declining vaccination rates. Large gatherings like concerts or airports can facilitate fast spread, especially in unvaccinated populations. The resurgence of measles in 2025 highlights persistent challenges in maintaining community immunity, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Debunking

There is no evidence presented in the articles of a confirmed outbreak directly linked to the Shakira concert. As of the last official report, no additional measles cases associated with this specific event have been identified, though attendees are being advised to monitor their health due to the incubation period of the virus.