As the mumps continue to sweep through the NHL, the Calgary Flames postponed an annual visit to the kids at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
The team said the decision was made as a precaution after consulting with hospital officials.
Craig Jenne, an infectious disease specialist with the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, said officials made the right call.
“The disease can be transmitted even though the players aren’t showing any symptoms yet,” said Jenne.
“In fact, it’s most transmissible normally just before you show symptoms.”
The Calgary Flames played the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Friday, Dec. 12.
On Sunday, Dec. 14, the Penguins confirmed Sidney Crosby was diagnosed with the mumps.
A second player, Beau Bennett, was diagnosed the following Tuesday.
According to Jenne, it is likely that some of the Flames were exposed to the virus even though the team received a booster dose of the MMR vaccine two weeks ago.
“The best the vaccine will do is offer 80 to 85 per cent protection,” he said.
“So one or two players may get it, but you hopefully won’t see it run through the whole team.”
According to Alberta Health Services, there are seven confirmed cases of the mumps province-wide so far this year.
Six of those cases are in Calgary.
In 2013, there were five cases province-wide.
Mumps is a highly contagious viral illness spread through saliva.
It comes with a lengthy incubation period, and a patient may be infected for up to two weeks before showing symptoms.
The tell-tale chipmunk cheeks usually turn up in the final stages of the infection.
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