Several Marlins Players Have Mump-Like Symptoms

Pitcher Antonio Alfonseca Was The First

Debra A. Scott, Staff Writer
Description HereSeveral members of the Florida Marlins baseball team have come down with symptom similar to the mumps.

Health officials are concerned because the virus is highly contagious. The Marlins said that they have covered all the bases.

Pitcher Antonio Alfonseca was the first to come down with mump-like symptoms.

Mumps Fast Facts:
Causes:
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Swollen glands under the jaw

    Mumps can lead to:

  • Hearing loss
  • Meningitis (infection of brain and spinal cord coverings)
  • Males can have painful, swollen testicles
    • Four more teammates followed ? Armando Almanza, Brant Brown, starter Alex Fernandez, and Dan Miceli. Two of the players have recovered, three are still quarantined, and everybody else is being immunized.

    "Approximately a hundred people will be inoculated before the end of the day today," Eric Carrington, Marlins spokesman said Monday.

    Health Department officials say the virus is typically passed through saliva, and the older you are, the worse the symptoms can be.

    "The salivary gland is swelling, it may be painful to swallow, what have you. There may be a fever that will go along with it. The genitals may swell up at times too," Barry Inman of the Brevard Health Department said.

    Marlin's officials don't expect the illness to affect the new season. Health experts are urging people, especially students and international travelers to get a second immunization. They want to make sure that you have a live inoculation.

    The last time Central Florida had any problems with the mumps was in 1989


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