Commonwealth Games 2018: Unnamed athlete admitted to hospital after contracting malaria in Gold Coast

Modified Apr 06, 2018 18:17 IST

What’s the story?

An undisclosed athlete contending at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast has been admitted to the hospital due to a severe condition after contracting malaria during the build-up to Gold Coast 2018. The organizers in Australia have confirmed that a 23-year-old athlete was reportedly taken to Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) yesterday as he was diagnosed with the tropical illness.

In case you didn’t know…

In the continent of Australia, malaria is a disease that is not found and that indicates nothing but the fact that the hospitalized individual was bitten by a malaria-infected mosquito prior to their arrival to the host nation of the Commonwealth Games.

Malaria is a disease that is extensively prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions that are located closer to the equator. The ailment is responsible for claiming close to over 9 Lakh deaths annually, worldwide; and around 90% of deaths, as well as the total cases of malaria, are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The heart of the matter

Authorities have refused to name the affected athlete and his nationality due to confidentiality reasons. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said, "The patient received immediate treatment for malaria on arrival at GCUH," the authorities said in a statement while addressing the media regarding the matter. "The patient remains admitted to GCUH in a serious condition and continues to be closely monitored."

This is not the first case of an athlete falling sick at the CWG in Australia this year – three members of the same team were asked to remain in isolation for a couple of days following their contraction of the flu earlier this week. Seven squad members of the New Zealand Women’s rugby team were also advised to remain in seclusion after being diagnosed with mumps (swollen glands).