Flyers make preps as NHL battles mumps outbreak

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Flyers are taking steps to keep their players healthy as the NHL deals with an outbreak of the mumps.

Mumps is a contagious virus that causes painful swelling of the salivary glands.

Since the vaccine was introduced in 1967, the number of cases have dropped dramatically. But while the vaccine is good it is not 100 percent effective.

There has been a spike in the number of cases this year.

Three players with the Anaheim Ducks caught the virus, five with the Minnesota Wild, one player with the New York Rangers and two with the New Jersey Devils.

That's when it hit home for some of the Flyers.

"Not until yesterday when we played New Jersey and they had two guys who had the mumps and that kind of scared me," said Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo.

"It's obviously not something you want to get but we got vaccinated the other day so we should be fine hopefully," said Flyers forward Jakub Voracek.

The vaccine is typically given in two doses during childhood. We're told a booster shot was offered last night to the Flyers and many players and staff chose to get it.

The CDC says two doses of the vaccine is 88 percent effective.

The contagious virus is spread through droplets of saliva or mucus, which could put athletes at a higher risk as many share water bottles.

"We share. We don't put our mouths on it, but still," said Rinaldo

Symptoms of the mumps include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, and swelling of salivary glands.

In most cases, people recover within a few weeks. But there are some rare but serious complications such as hearing loss and swelling of the brain.

The NHL is not alone in seeing a spike in cases.

The CDC reports from January to November this year, there have been more than 1,000 cases of the mumps.

In 2013, that number was 438.

Coach Craig Berube says it is a concern but the Flyers medical staff is on top of it.

"They're doing what they can. That doesn't mean it won't happen but they're doing what they can," he said.

One of the players also told me he noticed more hand sanitizer out by the rinks and locker rooms. That is another vital way to prevent people from getting sick.

If you are not sure if you received two doses of the mumps vaccine as a child, you can ask your doctor to do a blood test to check for immunity.

For more on the mumps virus, vaccine and complications visit The Centers for Disease Control.