NHL teams postpone public appearances amid mumps concern

Multiple NHL teams are postponing annual hospital holiday visits and charity events because of a mumps outbreak around the league.

At least five teams have changed plans as of Tuesday evening, including the New York Islanders, who delayed Wednesday's annual holiday hospital visit as a precautionary measure.

"As of today no player or staff member has shown any signs of symptoms of infection," the Islanders said in a statement. "Nonetheless to assure the health and wellness of hospitalized children, the organization has decided to be extremely cautious."

The Islanders' decision came a day after it was revealed that staff and patients at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital might have been accidentally exposed to the virus during a visit by Pittsburgh Penguins player Beau Bennett.

Bennett on Tuesday became the 15th NHL player diagnosed with the virus, and it is believed there have been other unconfirmed cases. The Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers and Penguins all have had reported cases.

The NHL has let teams decide what is best regarding public appearances.

The Calgary Flames and the Carolina Hurricanes, with no mumps cases, both postponed Wednesday's scheduled holiday hospital visits as a precaution.The Flames received mumps vaccinations two weeks ago; the Hurricanes got mumps shots a month ago.

The Wild, one of the teams hit by mumps cases, also postponed hospital visits. But the Nashville Predators, mumps free thus far, made a hospital visit Monday.

USA TODAY Sports also polled five other teams -- the Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings -- who have not canceled public appearances.

Previously, the Ducks, who have had mumps cases, canceled some public appearances by players, including a hospital visit.

More media attention about the mumps has come since Penguins star Sidney Crosby was diagnosed last week.

"Mumps is a little trickier because the spectrum of clinical symptoms can vary quite a bit so it's not easy to detect it early on," said Dr. Greg Wallace of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), lead of mumps, measles and rubella team.

"Influenza is more complicated because the genetics can change from year to year," Wallace said. "Certainly there are a lot more influenza cases every year than there are mumps cases. The genetics of the mumps is relatively stable. The vaccine effectiveness doesn't change from year to year."

The vaccine for mumps is about 88% effective.

"Part of the (concern) is to some degree because of the success of the vaccine," Wallace said. "Because of the success you don't hear about mumps so much. When you do hear about it, people say why is that happening? Particularly if you have something high profile like with a professional sports team. We've certainly had bigger outbreaks in other settings."

Still, it seems every time a player doesn't feel well there are whispers of mumps.

On Tuesday, Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, woke up ill, and he won't play Wednesday against the Wild. Coach Joel Quenneville said he did not know whether Keith had the mumps or another medical issue.

Thus, teams are trying to be proactive in stopping the spread of the virus. Some are offering mumps shots, and many are testing players to see if their antibody count is high. And the Columbus Blue Jackets said they thoroughly cleansed their visiting dressing room after the Penguins left town after a 4-3 win Saturday night. The room was scrubbed clean, and every water bottle was thrown out.