Francisco Rodriguez a closer for the Detroit Tigers is someone who experienced firsthand the effects of the Zika virus. He says he would tell those athletes traveling to the Rio Olympics to do their homework.
Rodriguez is a Caracas, Venezuela native who contracted Zika during the offseason and learned how serious it can be. He said he was laid up for at least two weeks with severe body aches, headaches, joint pain and a number of other virus symptoms.
Considering that the effects of this illness can be more devastating for females, especially those who are pregnant, he said that athletes preparing to participate in the upcoming Olympics need to educate themselves along with members of their families.
Rodriguez says would not blame any of them for having second thoughts of participating in the Games. If they are playing to have children, you must think about its possible effects.
Rodriguez spends his entire offseason home in Caracas. He said his sickness started similar to how a cold begins but quickly evolved into a much worse virus. Once his symptoms persisted, he realized it was not just any ailment he was dealing with.
He said colds do not give you body aches and weakness as well as vomiting for two weeks.
The Tigers reliever, who recently became just the sixth MLB pitcher to reach 400 career saves, had doctors examine his blood to see if it was Zika or chikungunya another illness that is mosquito borne, which was contracted this offseason by Bruce Rondon a Tigers prospect.
The blood test determined Rodriguez was suffering from Zika and his slow recovery began. Rodriguez said he was only inflected two weeks with Zika, but it was two months until he felt life he was himself. He was still affected during spring training.
Rodriguez said that he realized that he was a lucky one in Venezuela due to how bad the Venezuelan economy is where even those who are wealthy have a hard time gaining access to needed medicine and experience price gouging.
As he has seen the havoc and pain this virus has caused in Venezuela, Rodriguez said he understands the concern athletes have as the Olympic Games approach.
Countries across Latin America have dealt with this crisis over six months, but athletes and tourists arriving from other regions of the world might be putting themselves at undo risks, said one health analyst.
