American soccer star Donovan has swine flu
U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan has tested positive for the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as the swine flu virus.
Donovan said he contracted the virus in the United States last week. But he played a World Cup qualifying match Wednesday in Mexico, where the ongoing H1N1 flu pandemic began. He reportedly was showered with human waste while taking a corner kick.
“I felt something when I got into Miami on Sunday,” Donovan said. “I just felt real bad and finally went to see the doctor. They took a swab from my nose and confirmed it, so that was that.”
Donovan learned of his diagnosis just a day after playing the entire 90 minutes of the U.S.’s 2-1 World Cup qualifying loss in Mexico City. He is the all-time leader in goals and assists for the U.S. national team.
“Monday, it got a little bit worse. I was coughing a little. Tuesday [when the U.S. team traveled to Mexico City] I was coughing a little, and when I woke up Wednesday I felt a little tired, but I just assumed it was the altitude,” he said.
Donovan did have an assist in the game but appeared to tire in the second half.
Bruce Arena, coach and general manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Donovan’s Major League Soccer club, told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that Donovan may have contracted the virus from two Galaxy staff members who came down with it during last weekend’s game against the New England Revolution in Foxborough, Mass.
Arena also told the Times that Donovan is not infectious. Donovan said he even might be able to play Saturday for the Galaxy against the Seattle Sounders – bet on the match at WagerWeb.com.
“If I feel well there’s no reason why I can’t play, but we’ll just have to see how I feel,” he said. “Judging by how I felt during other flus and colds, this doesn’t seem as bad, so maybe I got a mild strain of it.”
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