The 2015 MLB season has been going just swimmingly for the Kansas City Royals. They own the best record in the American League and their acquisitions at the trade deadline have put them in a favorable position to make another World Series run.
But then came their weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Royals' clubhouse is dealing with a chickenpox outbreak, according to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star. Two players have been infected and others are asking close family members if they ever contracted the virus as a child or received the vaccination.
"Royals outfielder Alex Rios and All-Star reliever Kelvin Herrera have both been infected with the virus and could miss at least two weeks of action, team officials told The Star," McCullough writes.
"Rios and Herrera each left the team over the weekend and flew to Kansas City before the series ended. An examination on Monday of both players confirmed the diagnosis, a team official said."
Chickenpox is dangerous when adults contract it because the symptoms and complications can be much more severe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, serious complications include pneumonia, bleeding problems, infection or inflammation of the brain, bacterial infections of the skin, blood stream infections, toxic shock syndrome, bone infections and joint infections.
It can be life threatening in rare cases. McCullough notes the most at-risk players are those from countries in Latin America because the vaccination rates for the virus are much lower. It's serious for those who have not been inoculated because the disease is highly contagious and can be spread through the air.
The Royals plan to address the situation before Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Tigers. It's believed only Rios and Herrera are infected, but symptoms don't begin to surface until 1-3 weeks after someone is exposed to chickenpox.
It's a bit more clear as to why Kansas City traded for Atlanta Braves' outfielder Jonny Gomes last night before the waiver deadline.
On the day Kansas City activated outfielder Alex Gordon from the disabled list after the All-Star missed two months with a groin injury, the team lost another two players and that number could increase in days/weeks.
Stay tuned for updates.
