Virus to blame for wrestlers ‘irritation’

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Virus to blame for wrestlers ‘irritation’

Cold sore cause, HSV-1, is what’s been spreading

By Brent Stecker
World staff writer

Originally published January 24, 2011 at 7:03 p.m., updated January 25, 2011 at 9:28 a.m.

EAST WENATCHEE — Eastmont schools Superintendent Garn Christensen and local health officials say an outbreak of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is the reason the Eastmont wrestling team’s operations have been suspended indefinitely.

The cause of what school officials previously labeled “skin irritations” was revealed Monday afternoon in a meeting with Eastmont wrestlers and parents.

Christensen told those gathered at the high school that decisions about whether the team will finish the season, or if the school will host the Class 3A regional meet on Feb. 12 as planned, will not be made until at least Wednesday. He also said he couldn’t confirm the number of students that have been identified as having HSV-1.

“We’re still learning what has to happen (in order for the season to continue) from the (Chelan-Douglas Health District),” Christensen said.

News of the problems plaguing Eastmont wrestlers first surfaced Jan. 18 when Wenatchee athletic director B.J. Kuntz announced the Wenatchee High School-Eastmont match for that night had been postponed. At the time, Christensen said about a dozen wrestlers were suffering from “skin irritations.” The WHS-EHS match was later scrapped altogether and Eastmont also had to postpone last week’s match against Kennewick.

On Saturday, Christensen announced the wrestling program’s activities had been suspended indefinitely.

During Monday’s meeting, Christensen said if the season is canceled, no Eastmont wrestlers will be allowed to wrestle in the postseason, “unless some other type of arrangements are made.” It would be a blow to seniors Joey Caron (160 pounds) and Johnny Martinez (215) and sophomores Fabian Wickham (103) and Darin Hardgrove (171), all of whom were expected to contend for state tournament berths.

Eastmont has two league matches left on its schedule — Thursday at Southridge, and Feb. 1 at home against Kennewick. The Kennewick match has been rescheduled twice since its original date of Jan. 20. Athletic director Dan White said there are no plans as of now to forfeit any matches.

Monday’s meeting largely dealt with ways students and parents can treat or prevent the virus.

According to officials from the Chelan-Douglas Health District and the Eastmont School District, HSV-1 is the same virus that causes cold sores, and is easily spread through skin contact. In the case of the Eastmont wrestling team, the virus has found openings on skin, creating lesions.

The virus has an incubation period of two to 12 days, and can live on wrestling mats anywhere from four hours to 12 days.

If HSV-1 gets into the eyes, it can cause blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and pain and redness of the eye. Christensen said the possibility of eye infections was an important factor in suspending the program’s operations.

Brent Stecker: 661-5222

stecker@wenatcheeworld.com

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girlfawkes 2 years, 3 months ago

Interesting... HSV1 (otherwise known as oral herpes) is very common, a majority of the adult population has antibodies, suggesting that they have had at least a latent infection. If you've ever had an oral chancre (cold sore) you likely have had an active outbreak of HSV1. However, even entirely asymptomatic people will often have antibodies.

So was this just oral, or did it become cutaneous?

girlfawkes 2 years, 3 months ago

NVM, my question was answered in the article.

stdslove 2 years, 3 months ago

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positiveguy 2 years, 3 months ago

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2 years, 3 months ago

First time I've ever heard of Herpes Simplex 1 having this kind of effect on sweathogs, but then it's been a few years since I was on the mat.

grappler9 2 years, 3 months ago

So what is Eastmont School District doing about this besides trying to determine if the season as well as hosting the tournament is canceled. While their isn't a fool proof way of keeping this from happening, the coaching staff / athletic department didn't do much to protect against this. A number of precautions could be taken that weren't which resulted in lost competition, a bad name for the Eastmont wrestling program and another blow to a sport that is slowing dieing. Do you think any other schools are going to want to compete against Eastmont in the future?

Some kind of statement needs to be made!

Step up Superintendent Garn Christensen.

nuhuskrfan 2 years, 3 months ago

This couldn't have happened to a better program than the sorry Eastmont High

girlfawkes 2 years, 3 months ago

I'm not sure what steps could be taken, Grappler, besides wrestlers keeping their saliva in their mouths, and/or reporting any signs of active HSV1, though it can be spread from even a person who has an asymptomatic infection. I'm sure the mats are probably a factor, but the reality is that wrestling calls for extremely close facial to body contact and the virus could very well be transferred from person to person without even touching the mats.

grappler9 2 years, 3 months ago

The steps are easy, wash mats with proper chemicals before and after, shower with a soap designed to fight this, clean workout clothes each practice and the coaching staff inspecting athletes for any signs of breakouts. When this is done you have a fighting chance to avoid a breakout and if someone does get it you catch it before having the whole team contract it. Ask any coach who runs a successful program and this is standard operating procedure.

SheepDawg 2 years, 3 months ago

This is nothing new to the wrestling world and especially the Eastmont HS school wrestling team. My son wrestled for EHS during the 2008-2009 season. My son acquired the Virus on three separate occasions during the season and missed matches and many practices as a result.

I made sure my son was showered ASAP after each and every practice; however, after first hand observation of the very old wrestling mat in the practice room and the pitch black mop water I shook my head knowing it wasn't going to go away. Part of the practice mat's were very old with deep wrinkles that can contain bacteria and would be very difficult if not next to impossible to properly clean and sterilize.

I was present to pick up my son after practice many times. I rarely saw anyone scrubbing the wrestling mats or the adjacent walls. In my days at Cashmere HS Coaches Bill Elliott and John Durheim made sure their practice room was adequately cleaned.

I truly hope this doesn't end the season for the Eastmont HS wrestling team as wrestling is an awesome sport that builds true character in a wrestler. Good Luck WildCats!!!