Pox Be With You

So there really haven't been any maladies to grab my attention over the last few months. Leastways, not until I saw the headlines (and heard the radio reports) Wednesday morning. Herpes? Yes!

But not what you're thinking.

Herpes gladiatorum, or Mat Herpes, is a skin infection that wrestlers get. It's caused by the Herpes simplex 1 virus, so it behaves like a cold sore: blistering, painful. Very contagious. Getting this can put you out of competition for a week or more.

And because of a couple dozen cases of said malady in Minnesota wrestlers, the Minnesota State High School League has suspended wrestling practice or competition until February 6 in order to get things under control.

The same condition is found in rugby players, but (as rugby players do) they have given it the much more entertaining name of Scrumpox. The name is so adorable, this blogger took it for his own.

My advice? Don't rub up against other people unless you really have to.