(Reuters) – Bournemouth’s Ivorian midfielder Hamed Traore is facing a prolonged absence from the team after being hospitalized due to malaria following international duty last month, according to the club’s manager Andoni Iraola.
Following his illness, the 23-year-old was not named in the Ivory Coast squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations and will continue to undergo medical tests while recovering at home.
“The past few weeks have been a challenging time for him both personally and from a sporting perspective,” said Iraola. “We need to ensure that he is well taken care of and makes a full recovery, but he will be out for some time.”
Malaria, a treatable disease with symptoms typically appearing 10 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, is what Traore is battling against, as per the World Health Organization.
Traore officially joined Bournemouth during the summer transfer window following a loan spell from Serie A club Sassuolo in January. He has made 10 league appearances for the team, with his most recent one being in early November.
With eight national team caps to his name, Traore represented the Ivory Coast in the recent World Cup qualifiers prior to his illness.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris)
