Swine flu reported at Wimbledon

July 1, 11:22 AMHealth Care ExaminerSheila Guilloton

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Officials at Wimbledon report  swine flu outbreak

Wimbledon officials  are watchful as reports  surfaced that at least three players have contracted swine flu.  The players are 3 relatively unknown doubles players and  have all been taken ill since the tournament began.

Two of the players were eliminated by losing their doubles matches. The third, a mixed doubles entrant, withdrew from the competition prior to his match.  

The players were identified as an American,  Travis Parrot, and two Slovakians Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasaek.   The 2 Slovaks were sharing a room at a London hotel and Parrot was the doubles partner of Mertinak.

The All England Lawn and Tennis Club (AELTC) also confirmed that a number of ball boys and girls has been asked to stay at home after they showed "flu-like" symptoms.  Two days after the first reports identified the possible outbreak at the tournament, Wimbledon  officials sent home an additional 28 staff members with suspicious flu-like symptoms. In additon to the ball boys and girls the affected personnel included members of the catering staff, a member of staff from the shop and a person from the broadcast center.

Although the AELTC did not plan to issue an official policy statement on the threat of the virus it has urged players in a letter to be especially vigilant.  Officials suggested that players pay special attention to washing their hands particulary after using the computers in the players'  lounge. They are also being especially careful to dispose of towels after use.

Swine flu fears hit the Wimbledon tennis tournament just as global infections topped 70,000 and Denmark reported the first case of resistance to Tamiflu  the key drug used to treat the virus.  The Danish Institue of Serology said the Danish woman is no longer suffering from the illness.  Swiss drug company Roche, which makes Tamiflu, said the patient's resistance was expected and likely an individual case.

"It doesn't mean the circulating virus is resistant to Tamiflu," said David Reddy, Roche's pandemic task force leader. The woman in Denmark had been in direct contact with a swine flu victim and was given a dosage of Tamiflu as a preventative measure, however she still contracted the virus.  She was later treated with another type of medication, Relenza, made by British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

Players were continuing to mingle at the Aorangi Park practice area within the Wimbledon grounds, while thousands of fans entered the club as usual.  AELTC officials have been working closely with the Health Protection Agency and the tournament medical staff.   St John's Ambulance officials are monitoring the situation.   St. John's Abulance provides first aid at public events with large crowds.

Ian Ritchie, CEO of the AELTC stated that the tournament would continue.  He said the outbreak at Wimbledon was similar to the average incident reports for the greater London community.  Ritchie  issued a statement Monday about the flu cases and asked all visitors and personnel to stay away from the championships if they develop any symptoms.