Mumps virus returns to the NHL with cases confirmed on the Wild, Canucks

Update 2/27:

Monday evening, the Wild announced that Jason Pominville and Zach Parise have been diagnosed with the mumps. They join Troy Stecher as the only players confirmed with the viral infection, and this is the second time in three years that the Wild have been hit with the mumps.

Both Parise and Pominville had the booster in 2014 when the virus spread to Minnesota’s Ryan Suter.

Original story 2/24:

The mumps have returned to the NHL. On Friday afternoon the Vancouver Canucks announced that “several” players have symptoms of the viral infection, with one confirmed case.

According to Elliotte Friedman, five Vancouver players have been infected and won’t face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday evening. The players in question are being tested and treated in isolation for a five-day period of time until either symptoms emerge or tests come back negative.

Troy Stecher is the one confirmed with mumps, while Chris Tanev, Nikita Tryamkin, Mike Chaput, and Markus Granlund have shown symptoms. The Canucks are taking every precaution to contain the virus and stop any spread of the infection.

The NHL dealt with mumps back in December 2014, when a minimum of 14 players — including star Sidney Crosby — had the virus that spread across five teams. The infection causes swelling and tenderness in the glands, along with flu-like symptoms of a fever and soreness. Mumps is transferred through saliva and mucus, which make the benches on the ice a breeding ground for the virus.

Here’s the entire Canucks press release.