The two-game baseball series slated to be played in Puerto Rico later this month has been relocated to Miami due to concerns over the Zika virus, Major League Baseball and the players’ union jointly announced Friday.
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Major League Baseball said in a statement that “numerous players expressed concerns about contracting and potentially transmitting the Zika virus to their partners”.
Marlins players attended a seminar on Zika that heightened concerns about playing the games in San Juan on May 30-31, team player representative Tom Koehler said.
In other words: as long as the Zika virus was a thing in Puerto Rico, these games were simply not going to happen there. US health officials say Puerto Rico is the front lines of the nation’s battle with Zika.
On Wednesday the governor of Puerto Rico chided the players who spoke to the media about not wanting to play the games. Additionally, the CDC has stated that people infected with Zika usually do not have to go to the hospital, and it is very rare for a person to die from the disease.
Zika cases have been confirmed in 55 countries and the latest figures make Colombia the second most affected nation in South America, after Brazil, of the mosquito-borne virus. “We look forward to an opportunity in the near future to return to Puerto Rico to play before the great Pirates fans who were so excited for these games”. Hiram Bithorn Stadium hosted several games for the Montreal Expos in 2003 and 2004. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found more than 600 cases of the virus in Puerto Rico.
“Go visit my attractive Puerto Rico!!” At the time, Puerto Rico was on a Level 2 Zika alert.
Greg adds that Puerto Rican officials were unhappy with the move.
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The decision to shift the games from Puerto Rico is another blow to an island mired in recession and unable to pay $72 billion in public debt. “The reality of the situation with Zika in Puerto Rico does not justify a cancellation, but we have to respect their decision”, said Mari Jo Laborde, chief sales and marketing director for the tourism company.
