The NFL Giants, who play in Dallas on Sunday, have “taken steps to ensure that their players, staff and entire traveling party have been briefed on the deadly Ebola virus,” according to Bill Pennington of the N.Y. TIMES. Spurred by the NFL, which “distributed an informational letter about Ebola to every team on Monday, the Giants provided employees with what amounted to an Ebola fact sheet.” The letter, written by the medical staff at the Duke Univ. Infection Control Outreach Network, “informed the teams that the chance of players or employees contracting the disease was extremely low.” Giants VP/Communications Pat Hanlon said that the team “was not taking any unusual or special precautions for its Dallas trip” (N.Y. TIMES, 10/16). USA TODAY’s Jim Corbett notes Cowboys coach Jason Garrett “hasn't spoken with players about the growing Ebola scare, but he's considering doing so after a second female healthcare worker contracted the disease at a local hospital.” Garrett said, “I haven't addressed that directly with our guys yet, but at some point, we might have to do that.” Cowboys DT Nick Hayden said that players have “spoken about the issue and are staying vigilant, but aren't changing their daily routines” (USA TODAY, 10/16).
KEEPING TRACK: In N.Y., Wayne Coffey notes the NFL “isn’t the only sporting institution keeping an eye on the Ebola virus.” N.Y. Road Runners VP Chris Weiller, whose organization runs the TCS New York City Marathon, said that the virus is “on their radar.” Coffey notes “several of the runners in the event” come from West Africa (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/16).
