Jamaican sprinter reveals Zika infection

Sprinter Kemar Bailey-Cole has admitted to having the Zika virus but will compete in Jamaica's Olympic trials.

zika

Kemar Bailey-Cole of Jamaica. Source: AAP

Jamaican sprinter Kemar Bailey-Cole says he has been infected with the Zika virus but will participate in his country's Olympic trials next week.

The Jamaican Gleaner reported on Saturday that the 24-year-old track star has rashes and eye pain but is not afflicted by the muscle pain often associated with the virus, which he caught in Jamaica.

Bailey-Cole won a gold medal in the 100-metre relay at the London Olympics in 2012.

His case comes amid rising concern among athletes over a surge in Zika infections in Brazil, where Rio de Janeiro will host the Olympics in August.

Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, US cyclist Tejay van Garderen and British long jumper Greg Rutherford have dropped out of the games citing Zika worries.


Share

1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world