Herpes outbreak triggers wrestling ban in Minnesota

CHICAGO, Illinois (Reuters) -- An outbreak of a contagious rash called herpes gladiatorum among Minnesota high school wrestlers led the state to suspend matches and halt contact practices, authorities said Wednesday.

The eight-day suspension affecting 7,500 wrestlers on 262 teams was the first time a state's entire high school program in a sport has been shut down, authorities said.

The Minnesota State High School League acted after 24 wrestlers from 10 schools contracted the rash, which was first noticed and spread at a tournament in December.

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