On the same day that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the H1N1 flu virus, more commonly known as the swine flu, has spread to all 50 states, the virus might have hit the baseball world.
A producer for SNY, the television network that broadcasts the vast majority of the Mets' regular season games, is in isolation at a New York-area hospital with possible swine flu symptoms, according to the New York Post.
The stricken person, Dan Barr, is a producer on the SNY broadcast crew that travels with the Mets on their regular charter flight. Barr was sent home from Pittsburgh within the past 24 hours and is currently isolated, with test results confirming or negating swine flu not expected back for at least a week.
"We've been told [swine flu] is not a type of illness that's transmitted through the air," [Mets Assistant GM John] Ricco said today. "It's more shaking hands, sneezing. So we're not too worried. The symptoms, we've been told, are marked generally by high fever, joint aches and fatigue.
"These symptoms are not consistent at all with what Carlos Beltran and John Maine have at the present time, but our players are being informed that this has happened," continued Ricco. "Right now, no one on our team is feeling any of that type of symptoms."
Did You See That?
Spanish matador Israel Lancho is gored after trying to kill a bull during the San Isidro Festival at the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid on May 27, 2009.
Alberto Simon, AFP / Getty Images
ORLANDO - MAY 30: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic dunks against ## of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 30, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard
Detroit Red Wings' Nicklas Lidstrom, left, of Sweden, and Pittsburgh Penguins' Pascal Dupuis fight for control of the puck during the first period of of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Detroit on Sunday, May 31, 2009.
DOVER, DE - MAY 31: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2009 in Dover, Delaware.
Chris Trotman, Getty Images
Russian player Nikolay Davydenko returns a ball to Spanish player Fernando Verdasco during a French Open tennis round of 16 match on May 31, 2009 at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris. The event, the second Grand Slam tournament of 2009, runs from May 25 to June 7, 2009.
Chicago White Sox third baseman Josh Fields leaps out of the way as Toronto Blue Jays' Marco Scutaro is hit by the throw from home while stealing third base during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, May 17, 2009.
DENVER - MAY 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers falls down as the ball flies in the air in front of Linas Kleiza #43 of the Denver Nuggets in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on May 29, 2009 in Denver, Colorado.
Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images
Minnesota Twins' Carlos Gomez, behind, plows into Boston Red Sox catcher George Kottaras while being tagged out trying to score from third on a fielder's choice in the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 27, 2009, in Minneapolis.
Jim Mone, AP
Russia's Maria Sharapova serves the ball to Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova during their third round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Friday May 29, 2009.
Bernat Armangue, AP
Pachuca's Jose Maria Cardenas (R) heads the ball during their Mexican football match against Pumas in Mexico City on May 28, 2009.
Luis Acosta, AFP / Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-04-2009 @ 9:28AM
Kevin said...
How is this "Sportscaster May Have Swine Flu?" He is a PRODUCER.
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 9:57AM
Kathleen said...
The same way as everyone else you dummy. Did you not read the part that said it's am AIRBORNE virus? Do you think he lives in a bubble or maybe leaves his house, shops, goes out in public or takes taxi's?
6-04-2009 @ 11:08AM
gueniviere10 said...
We wouldn't have read the article if it said "Producer struck with Swine Flu".
Also, in response to the sneezing vs airborne....Ricco clearly has no command of the English language. "No one on our team is feeling any of that type of symptoms". Oy.
6-04-2009 @ 10:16AM
bailoutsos said...
"We've been told [swine flu] is not a type of illness that's transmitted through the air," [Mets Assistant GM John] Ricco said today. "It's more shaking hands, sneezing." --- Doesn't sneezing put it into the air?
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 10:44AM
Moron said...
"It's more shaking hands, sneezing." How about sliding into dirt that has been spit into countless times... or using anything in the dug out for that matter?
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 10:49AM
Doctor Marc said...
Yes, sneezing makes it an airborne disease
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 11:11AM
barraankhrawynn said...
why sportcast have swine flu that can cause disease cancer or something happening to them.
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 11:15AM
etls1 said...
So what if he has the swine flu??? This is a big bunch of governement propaganda anyway. People get the flu, they usually do not get it at this time of year though. This was a purposeful introduction of it into the human population in order to assess spreading time and pattern. Worry about your governement, not the flu.
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 1:15PM
Hi Rotondos said...
Sure it makes sense. The Mets are in Queens the epi-center of the swine flu
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 2:01PM
mivogo said...
Who cares? My nephew had the "swine flu", as did other kids in his school, and it was milder than the regular flu. Stop spreading panic!
Reply