The two affected players are outfielder Alex Rios and pitcher Kelvin Herrera. They could miss two weeks of play due to the virus, and are currently quarantined in their homes.
Chickenpox is highly contagious and caused by the varicella-zoster virus, according to the CDC. People can spread the illness from one to two days before they get the telltale rash and until all of the blisters have formed scabs.
When adults get chickenpox, they are more likely than children to experience serious complications, like pneumonia. There is a chickenpox vaccine available, and most experts believe that once a person has the chickenpox, he or she cannot get it again.
The Royals players who hail from Latin American countries are most at-risk to catch chickenpox from their teammates, because “the chances of childhood inoculation are lower,” the Star reported.
The MLB isn’t the only professional sports league that has dealt with a highly infectious disease — players from multiple NHL teams came down with the mumps in December 2014, for instance.
More articles on infectious diseases:
AOHP adopts new position on respiratory protection for healthcare workers
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CDC announces $110M fund to help states prep for infectious diseases
