Players contract swine flu at Wimbledon

It remained business as usual at Wimbledon this morning despite reports that three players have contracted swine flu and that 28 members of staff have been asked to stay at home.

Three low-profile male doubles players are believed to have fallen ill since the tournament began last week.

Of those, two have been knocked out of the men's doubles and mixed doubles, while a third has withdrawn from the mixed doubles.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club last week confirmed a number of ball boys and girls were asked to stay at home after showing symptoms of a 'flu-like illness'.

The AELTC had no plans to issue guidance on the threat of swine flu today, however sources said players showing signs of the condition would not be expected to continue in the tournament.

Players were continuing to mingle at the Aorangi Park practice area within the Wimbledon grounds, while thousands of fans entered the club as usual.

Everyone involved in the tournament has been advised to seek medical assistance if they begin to show any symptoms of flu.

AELTC officials have been working closely with the Health Protection Agency and tournament medical staff plus St John's Ambulance officials are monitoring the situation.

There is believed to be no threat to the tournament continuing and Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the AELTC, said last week that the flu outbreak was 'entirely in line with the wider London community'.

At lunchtime on Wednesday, organisers revealed that a total of 28 Wimbledon staff have now been asked to stay at home after suffering flu-like symptoms.

Fears over a possible swine flu outbreak were raised two days ago after four ball boys and girls were asked to stay away.

Several more people have now been asked to stay away from the championships, including one member of staff working in the Wimbledon shop, one person from the broadcast centre, members of the catering staff and more ball boys and girls.

A Wimbledon spokeswoman said: 'Twenty-eight Wimbledon personal have been asked to stay at home with flu-like symptoms.

'But of the initial ball kids who were affected, three are now back at Wimbledon and fine to work. Once they have been without symptoms for 24 hours they are allowed back to work - and the ball kids are obviously desperate to get back on court.'

Senior Wimbledon doctor Fenella Wrigley said the incidence of those affected reflected the broader situation in London.

She said the spread of the virus was being monitored but numbers had not increased more than expected.

According to the Daily Mail newspaper, the three players believed to have caught the virus are Slovakians Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasek who shared a hotel room for the tournament, and American Travis Parrott, Polasek's doubles partner. All three are no longer in the tournament.

The Wimbledon spokeswoman said she could not comment on players.

There are about 6,000 Wimbledon staff working in SW19 at any one time.

A statement from All England Club chief executive Ian Ritchie released on Monday read: 'A small number of our championships' personnel have reported a flu-like illness and consequently been asked to stay at home.

'Having consulted closely with the Health Protection Agency, we have been reassured that since the incidence is entirely in line with the wider London community, there is no particular extra risk to all those connected with the event, be they players, media, staff or spectators, and we are able to continue with the championships as normal.'