The Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates are scheduled to play two games in Puerto Rico at the end of May. And now players from both teams are concerned about the Zika virus.
The virus, which can be transmitted via mosquitos, has not been transmitted in that fashion in the continental U.S., but there have been nearly 450 confirmed Zika cases contracted in Puerto Rico. The continental U.S. cases -- over 350 of them -- have all been tied to people traveling to places where there are outbreaks, such as Puerto Rico.
MLB and the union are talking with the players and are looking at Centers for Disease Control guidelines about how to ensure player safety and the prevention of birth defects to any children of players who may become affected. That includes guidelines about abstaining from reproductive sex for up to six months. But that’s obviously not the greatest comfort to some of the players:
As of now, officials with Major League Baseball, the Marlins and Pirates expect the games to be played as scheduled May 30-31.