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Eng act to reduce mumps risk
23/01/2008 20:11 - (SA)
London - England have moved to prevent any more of their players contracting mumps after wing Paul Sackey was confirmed to have been infected with the virus.
The Wasps flyer developed mumps in the lead-up to last Saturday's European Cup tie against Munster and was kept away from the rest of the England squad when they trained on Monday.
Although a statement issued on Wednesday by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said there was "negligible risk" of onward transmission from Sackey of the mumps virus, which causes swelling and pain in the salivary glands and can lead to damage of the reproductive organs, they are keen not to take any chances ahead of England's Six Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham on February 2.
The England senior squad and management were blood tested for immunity to mumps at training at Twickenham on Monday.
The England players and management who were then found to be potentially at risk of infection are being immunised by their club medical teams with the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine on Wednesday.
Wasps are immunising their squad and Gloucester, whom they meet in the English Premiership at Kingsholm on Saturday, are also vaccinating their players as a precaution.
Sackey, 28, has been quarantined since it was suspected he had mumps last week and the RFU, who have been working in conjunction with Britain's Health Protection Agency, said they expected this period of quarantine to "cease towards the end of this week."
Reduce the risk of further infection
The statement added: "Subject to the resolution of his symptoms, he (Sackey) can join up with the England squad on Sunday."
England team doctor Simon Kemp said: "We believe that all possible and practical strategies to reduce the risk of further infection are being taken.
Sackey, capped 10 times, played a key role in England's run to October's World Cup final, scoring tries in must-win pool games against Samoa and Tonga.
If Sackey does miss the Wales match it could pave the way for an England debut for Lesley Vainikolo the Tongan-born former New Zealand rugby league international, who joined Gloucester at the start of the season.
In a separate development, Wasps said England lock Simon Shaw was making "remarkable progress" following an ankle injury sustained in the Munster defeat, which ended the reigning champions' participation in this season's European Cup.
That left open the possibility that Shaw could yet feature at some stage during this season's Six Nations.
The 34-year-old second row landed awkwardly while making a tackle at the lineout, although scans later revealed soft tissue damage, rather than a break.
"Simon Shaw is recovering remarkably well from his ankle injury," the statement said. "He is walking well without the assistance of crutches, and though it is too early to recommend a time-scale for his return to playing, the signs are very encouraging.
"He will continue intensive rehab with the club throughout this week."
But reserve scrumhalf Peter Richards, another European Cup casualty, is set to be sidelined for all of England's Six Nations campaign.
Richards's club, London Irish, confirmed he would be out of action for three months following a successful operation on a torn bicep muscle injury in his left arm sustained against Italian side Treviso on Saturday.
- AFP
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