Kings of Leon fans warned of measles exposure

Public health officials in the US said a woman attended the Seattle leg of band’s world tour while highly contagious with the potentially deadly disease

Kings of Leon front man Caleb Followill. Let's hope the band have all had their vaccines (Getty Images)

Thousands of Kings of Leon fans have been warned that they may have been exposed to measles after a woman diagnosed with the disease attended one of their recent gigs.

Washington State Department of Health has advised that anyone who attended the Key Arena show in Seattle to ensure they have been vaccinated and to check with a doctor if they are not sure.

As well as attending the gig while contagious, the woman may have infected people in a number of other places - including the bakery where she works.

“Public health officials say the Whatcom County woman in her 20s became contagious with measles March 26 after visiting a local family with measles linked to an outbreak in British Columbia,” the Washington State Department of Health said in a news release.

“She worked at the Lynden Dutch Bakery while contagious. Measles is highly contagious and can cause severe illness with rash, fever, cough, eye irritation, and can be fatal.”

The release did however stress that the majority of people in the state, having been vaccinated, are immune to measles “so the public risk is low except for people who are unvaccinated”.

It added: “People who are unvaccinated, aren’t sure if they’re immune, and develop an illness with fever or unexplained rash should consult a healthcare professional immediately. Public health officials urge them to call ahead to their clinic, doctor’s office, or emergency room before arriving so people in waiting rooms aren’t exposed.

“Measles is highly contagious even before the rash starts, and is easily spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes - if you're not vaccinated, you can get the measles just by walking into a room where someone with the disease has been in the past couple of hours.”

King of Leon have since moved onto Canada as part of their world tour which will bring them to the UK in June.