Jim Harbaugh and the University of Michigan football program called off a trip to American Samoa on Thursday, due to concerns about the Zika virus. American Samoa was planned to be the final stop on the Wolverines’ monthlong satellite camp tour.
John Raymar, the communications director for the Republican Party of American Samoa, posted on Facebook that Michigan canceled the camp because Harbaugh’s wife is pregnant, and the Zika virus poses major health risks to pregnant women:
The Jim Harbaugh American Samoa Gridiron camp that was slated to happen on Thursday has been cancelled due to fears of the Zika Virus. It was announced late last month that Harbaugh and his wife Sarah were expecting a baby. Sources say that their families doctor advised them to skip American Samoa’s football camp as the Zika virus poses significant health risks to pregnant women.
A Michigan spokesperson confirmed the news, according to the Detroit Free Press.
This would’ve been the second trip by Michigan staffers to American Samoa in the last month, but Harbaugh did not make the first trip. He would’ve been on this one.
Concerns over the Zika virus are of course causing many athletes to skip the Rio Olympics, such as star golfers Jason Day and Rory McIlroy.
