Latest news with #viralMeningitis
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Spain's Aitana Bonmati in hospital with viral meningitis days before Euro 2025
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis just days before the start of Euro 2025. The 27-year-old Barcelona player, who has won the Ballon d'Or for the past two years, was absent for her country's 3-1 friendly win over Japan on Friday. Advertisement She posted a picture on Instagram of herself watching the match, which was played in the Spanish city of Leganes, from a hospital bed. Euro 2025 kicks off on Wednesday, with world champions Spain set to begin their campaign a day later against Portugal in Bern. Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, right, in action against England in February (Zac Goodwin/PA) National team head coach Montse Tome, whose side also face Belgium and Italy in Group B, told a press conference: 'Initially all the tests came back fine but the last one confirmed she has viral meningitis. 'The word is scary but the doctor tells me it's under control. She will remain hospitalised; we don't know the timeline of her recovery. Advertisement 'She's an extremely important player for us and we will wait for her, no matter what, as long as we have to.' Bonmati was a key member of the Spain squad which won the 2023 World Cup – following victory over England in the final – and the 2024 Nations League.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Spain star Bonmati in hospital with viral meningitis
Spain's Aitana Bonmati has been taken ill on the eve of Women's Euro 2025 (LLUIS GENE) Spain midfielder and two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) said on Saturday. Bonmati missed Friday's friendly win over Japan in the world champions' final warm-up match before the start of Euro 2025 next week. Advertisement The RFEF said in a statement that Bonmati was "under ongoing medical observation" after tests led to her being diagnosed with viral meningitis. Bonmati, 27, did not train on Thursday after feeling unwell and later posted a photo of herself in a hospital bed watching the 3-1 victory over Japan. Spain coach Montse Tome said after the match she was unsure if Bonmati would recover in time to play at the European Championship, which runs from July 2-27 in Switzerland. "Talking about meningitis can be scary but in theory it is under control," said Tome. "We don't know long she's going to be absent. I can't say anything more than that. Advertisement "Aitana is an extremely important player, so we're going to wait for her as long as possible." Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is less serious than the rarer bacterial variant, which can lead to death within 24 hours. Spain begin their Euro 2025 campaign against neighbours Portugal on July 3 in Bern. They are also drawn with Belgium and Italy in Group C. pm/mas/mw/ea
CNN
7 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
Reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí hospitalized with meningitis less than a week before Euro 2025
Spanish soccer star Aitana Bonmatí has been hospitalized with viral meningitis just days before the start of the Women's Euros on Wednesday, her manager Montse Tomé said. The 27-year-old had a fever on Thursday evening and was taken to the hospital on Friday when her condition did not improve, according to Tomé. 'She is the first to authorize me to say this and the first who wants it to be said: she has viral meningitis,' Tomé said in a press conference Friday following Spain's 3-1 friendly victory over Japan, which Bonmatí missed. 'The word is definitely scary, but the doctor tells me it is under control,' she continued. 'We don't know the timeframe, we don't know anything else.' On Friday night, Bonmatí posted a picture of herself watching the game against Japan from a hospital bed, with a cannula in her arm. The midfielder is widely considered to have been the best player in women's soccer over the past few years, having been awarded the Ballon d'Or Féminin in both 2023 and 2024. Bonmatí has played a crucial role in the Barcelona team, which has reached five consecutive Women's Champions League finals, winning three. She also has 30 goals in 78 games for her country. The Women's Euros begin in Switzerland on Wednesday when Iceland faces Finland. Spain, the reigning world champion, will play its first game of the tournament against Portugal on Thursday evening. Should Bonmatí remain absent from the team, it appears likely that 18-year-old Vicky López will take her place in the starting XI, having filled in for her in the game against Japan. La Roja has never made it past the semifinals of this competition. The team was knocked out by eventual winner England in the quarterfinals in 2022 after fellow two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) three days before the start of the tournament. Meningitis is a swelling of the protective membranes which cover the brain and spinal cord. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the disease can be very serious, but most people with mild viral meningitis recover with seven to 10 days without the need for treatment.
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Spain's star player Aitana Bonmati in hospital with meningitis on eve of Euro 2025
Spain's star player Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis with less than a week to go before the start of Euro 2025. Bonmati, who has won the Ballon d'Or two years running, missed Spain's warm-up game with Japan on Friday night and manager Montse Tomé said there is no timeframe on her return. 'The doctors say that it is controlled, talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled,' Tomé said. 'Aitana will be admitted and there are no deadlines yet to know for how long [she will be absent for].' The Spanish Football Federation said Bonmati underwent testing after suffering from a fever, which failed to subside. She was then diagnosed with viral meningitis, which is an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is contagious but there has been no suggestion that any other of the Spanish players are also suffering from the illness. It is generally spread through contact with infected bodily fluids or respiratory droplets from someone who is infected, but the virus itself is not always likely to cause meningitis in those exposed. Common symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light (photophobia), and sometimes nausea, vomiting and fatigue, and it is typically less severe than bacterial meningitis. Bonmati shared a photo of herself watching Spain's game from a hospital bed on social media and Tome indicated they will give the midfielder as long as possible to recover in time to play some part in the Euros. 'Aitana, for us, is a very important player, we will wait for her, yes, as long as we can,' Tomé said. 'The information I have told you is what I have and I am not going to explain more, if I said something more I would be wrong.' Analysis: Bonmati absence would be a huge blow This news will have sent shock-waves through the Spanish squad. Bonmati is arguably the most important player in their squad and if she is unable to return to fitness in time it will be a huge blow. There is a sense of deja vu in that Spain lost Alexia Putellas to an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the eve of the Euros. At the time, Putellas was the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and their best player. It is hard to replace Bonmati although Spain are at least lucky in that they have a wealth of talent. If Bonmati's absence is prolonged, it could allow Putellas to step back into the limelight. She had a fantastic season with Barcelona and now looks back to her best after initially struggling to regain her form following her ACL injury. During the 2023 World Cup there was a suggestion that Putellas and Bonmati were less effective when they played together and that Bonmati shone more when the former was not in the starting XI. By the end of the tournament, Putellas was starting on the bench and Bonmati was running the show as Spain were crowned champions. It is not just Spain who will be concerned about Bonmati. She is a player that people will have travelled to Switzerland to watch and tournament organisers will naturally want the biggest stars on show.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Spanish Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati's Euro 2025 in doubt as she is admitted to hospital with 'scary' viral meningitis days before tournament kicks off
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has been hospitalised with viral meningitis just days before Euro 2025 begins. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner could miss a significant chunk of the tournament, which kicks off in Switzerland on Wednesday. The 27-year-old didn't train on Thursday because of a fever and was ruled out of a pre-tournament friendly against Japan. A day later she was admitted to a hospital in Madrid, where she posted a photo of her watching Spain's 3-1 victory from a hospital bed with a cannula in her arm, alongside a flexing arm emoji. Spain boss Montse Tomé confirmed the star has viral meningitis, adding: 'We can't talk about deadlines' for a return. 'Talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled,' she said. 'Aitana, for us, is a very important player, we will wait for her yes as long as we can. 'The information I have told you is what I have and I am not going to explain more, if I said something more I would be wrong.' The Spanish Football Federation said Bonmatí underwent medical tests after first suffering from a fever. But the fever remained and more extensive tests were carried out which confirmed she had meningitis, reports in Spain claim. Viral meningitis typically tends to get better on its own within a week to 10 days, according to the NHS. Bonmati claimed her second consecutive Ballon d'Or trophy in October. The midfielder won the league title but missed out on a fourth Champions League to Arsenal The Barcelona star has scored 30 goals in 78 matches for Spain and was a vital cog in the side which won the 2023 World Cup and last year's Nations League. She won a sixth league title and fifth Supacopa de Espana this season but was unable to claim a fourth Champions League win after Arsenal beat Barcelona 1-0 in the final last month. Spain face Portugal in their Euros opener in Group B in Bern on Thursday. They then take on Belgium on 7 July and Italy four days later.
