Athletes should be encouraged to consider the health and welfare of others more important than their participation in sports. Measles is an infection that can be transmitted to others through sports participation. Measles is a highly contagious illness for those who are not immune and is transmitted person to person via aerosol droplets. Epidemic pleurodynia, or epidemic myalgia, is characterized by abrupt onset of chest or abdominal pain and fever. The usual pathogen is coxsackievirus B. Outbreaks of this disease have been reported on football and soccer teams.
Close contact is required for transmission.
The disease can be spread either via body fluids or by direct contact of the lesions with uninfected skin or mucous membranes. The risk of transmission is increased if the uninfected skin is abraded or otherwise damaged. To prevent spread of herpes simplex, infected athletes should be disqualified from contact sports until all lesions are crusted over or healed. If infection could be transmitted during the sport, participation should be avoided. In addition, athletes should be immunized against preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, tetanus, rubella, and, possibly, hepatitis B. Diseases such as enteroviral infections can be prevented by avoiding shared water bottles and towels.