“[Football’s] lift was at 6 a.m. and they had another team lift come in at 7 a.m.,” Wheler told The Journal. “So lifts were happening, and people were working out [all day].”
Wheler confirmed to The Journal that football players who showed symptoms of the infection were swiftly removed from the weight room. However, those who didn’t show signs of infection completed the rest of their training.
She added the day following the incident, ARC staff were made to wear gloves while doing laundry in the building’s basement. By the time Wheler spoke to The Journal, Sept. 25, she and her employees were still made to wear gloves.
Considering the situation, though, Wheler said she feels comfortable continuing to work in the laundry room.
“I think it’s been fully contained,” she said.
Adrian Hansen-Taugher, Manager of KFLP&A’s infectious disease program, advised Athletics throughout their sanitation process.
“If there had been reason for them to close down [the Lifting Zone], then we would have made that recommendation,” Hansen-Taugher said. “We told them about the areas that needed enhanced cleaning.”
In an email sent to all varsity athletes on Sept. 20, an Athletics senior management staff member warned students about the impetigo outbreak. Athletes were provided information regarding the condition’s symptoms and referred them to SWS.
“If you have difficulty obtaining an appointment,” the email read, “indicate you are calling as a varsity athlete related to the skin issue—SWS is aware of it and has a lead doctor seeing all cases.”
No varsity practices have been cancelled due to the outbreak, however, the day symptoms of the condition first surfaced, all varsity practices were downgraded to non-contact. Athletes who were affected took the day off.
According to Pat Sheahan, head coach of the football program, “somewhere around eight to 10” of his players contracted impetigo.
Considering the timing and progression of the reported impetigo cases, Sheahan said he was impressed with Athletics’ swift response.
“The first day things showed up, [those affected] got it looked at, and as soon as one person said, ‘Hey, I have something that looks like that also,’ they all got treated right away,” Sheahan said.
“I’m happy to say that we’ve had no further cases, and it looks like this is one crisis that has come to an end.”
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