Pac-12 Football Program Affected by Mumps Outbreak as Nearly 3 Dozen Players Listed on Availability Report
from Essentially College Football
The San Diego State Aztecs are plagued by something much more serious than knee scrapes or minor injuries. As per the latest reports, several players have been dealing with mumps, adding another concern to the school’s already slow season.
The program’s season did not start on a good note. They are 1-3, and with several players out, their season has been derailed indefinitely.
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the Aztecs have 14 confirmed cases and one probable case as of Wednesday. The University announced the stats after an initial report confirmed three cases and two probable cases in a “student athletic team.”
Later on, they reported that it was the football team. According to the most recent update, the outbreak has been linked to only one reported case involving someone outside the team.
“Because mumps symptoms can develop 12 to 25 days after exposure, these new cases reflect spread within the team and potential exposure to additional close contacts,” the SDSU statement said. “The university continues to take a number of daily actions.”
As a part of its protocol, the school is closely working with San Diego County Public Health Services for daily screenings of the team. Those who had close contact will also be offered booster doses.
On Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the school also arranged for a free MMR booster clinic at the university’s Calpulli Center.
How did it start?
The outbreak first came to attention just ahead of the humiliating 41-16 loss at Toledo. That Saturday night game dropped the Aztecs to 1-3 going into their historic Pac-12 opener against Texas State at Snapdragon Stadium.
According to the newspaper report last week, four or more players tested positive because of a “connected and within” an unidentified source.
The Cleveland Clinic describes mumps as a viral illness that causes painful swelling in the salivary glands. “This can make it hard to eat and talk. You might also have flu-like symptoms. It spreads through sneezing, coughing, talking, or close contact with someone infected,” their website reads.
Symptoms include pain around the jaw and neck, earache, fever, headache, muscle ache, appetite loss, and tiredness. According to medical experts, symptoms appear 12-15 days after contact with a person suffering from the disease.
When asked about the “mumps situation” on campus during his weekly news conference, SDSU coach Sean Lewis said nothing and that he would protect his players’ privacy.
“There’s players that are up, there’s players that are down, for a lot of different reasons,” Lewis said. “Due to FERPA, due to HIPAA, and respecting the privacy of our student-athletes, I’m not going to say anything further about the matter.”
FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Despite his firm stance, he once again nudged in to sharing some information. One reporter brought up Bert Emanuel Jr., who was not even on the sidelines in Toledo.
“Again, there are a lot of different things that are going on, both football-related and non-football related,” the coach said about his player. “Due to FERPA and HIPAA, I’m not going to comment any further on that.”
The timing of this adversity couldn’t have been worse for the Aztecs. They have lost three games straight, and this outbreak is like a bad omen, hinting at how the next game could go. The team was already at a disadvantage with significant injuries.
What does SDSU’s availability report look like?
Out:
DB Braylon Cardwell
DB Dalesean Staley
TE Jack Ellis
(starter) RB Lucky Sutton
LS Luke Williams
(starter) OL Michael Leville Watkins
TE Parker Guiltinan
DL Roman Paseka
QB Stone Saunders
Doubtful:
ILB Dean Harrington
TE Elijah Muliufi
OL Harlem Nellum
TE Jack Lua
RB Javion Kinnard
ILB Jeramiah Lewis
WR Justius Lowe
DL Tuaoa Tau’ili’ili
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Questionable:
(starter) WR Bert Emanuel Jr.
(starter) TE Jackson Ford
TE Kime Fangupo
TE Ryan Wolfer
Probable:
WR Carson Diehl
(starter) OL Dennis Jones
(starter) WR Donovan Brown
(starter) C Isaac Lucas
WR Jacob Bostick
(starter) DB Jalen Thomeson
(starter) OLB Kai Wallin
DB Kaimana Tufaga
(starter) LG Kalan Ellis
DL Krisha Clay
WR Parker Threatt