User Rating: 5 / 5

Star ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar Active
 

The virus gains attention as it spreads through hockey.

While the National Hockey League makes less headlines than some other major sports leagues in the USA, its outdoor stadium series, highlighted by the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day gets its share of attention. Recently, the league has made headlines for a less desirable reason. More than 20 players on five teams and several referees have been diagnosed with the mumps virus.

The NHL is the perfect environment for it to spread, players share water bottles and being in close proximity, it is easy to get sneezed, coughed and spit on. Even one of the NHL’s biggest stars, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburg Penguins contracted the disease. It takes 12 days or more for symptoms to occur, so a player may be harboring the virus and seem perfectly healthy during this period. It is not clear who the first player was that contracted the mumps virus but the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) believes it began in October and signs point to the Anaheim Ducks or Minnesota Wild as possible culprits. It is possible that other teams may have been infected with the virus as well.

Mumps, also called epidemic parotitis, is a viral disease caused by the mumps virus. It affects the parotid glands, one of the three types of salivary glands and is situated in front of the ear. Symptoms can appear 2 to 3 weeks after being infected and include fever, headache, and weakness, but the signature symptom of mumps is swelling and pain in the parotid gland. It is spread through saliva and can be transferred through sneezing, coughing, or by sharing utensils. There is no treatment for the disease but most people do not have any complications once the virus has passed. Mumps was once a common childhood disease but has been greatly reduced thanks to the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine.

Sidney Crosbey of the Pittsburg Penguins with swelling on the side of his faceSidney Crosbey of the Pittsburg Penguins with swelling on the side of his faceMumps Vaccinations began in 1949 in the U.S. and the first vaccine was not very effective at preventing the virus. In 1967 a new version of the vaccine was developed and in 1971, it was combined with the vaccines for measles and rubella. In 1989, a second dose of the vaccine was introduced, changing the protocol to two treatments of MMR. Prior to 1967, about 186,000 cases of mumps were reported each year according to the Centers for Disease Control. Since then, that number has dwindled to an average of 265 cases per year, although outbreaks have occurred, the largest in recent times being 2006 with 6,339 cases reported, most of which were on college campuses.

Statistics show that most of the reported cases of mumps occur in individuals that have received the MMR vaccine (95% of the cases in the 2006 outbreak were vaccinated). If the vaccine is supposed to prevent the disease, why are people getting it? The vaccine is about 80% effective against the mumps virus and decreases over time. Receiving a second dose of the vaccine raises the effectiveness level to almost 90%. Over time, MMR’s effectiveness against the mumps decreases slightly, making people more vulnerable to the disease. The reason behind this is the human immune system. Again, over time, immune memory of antibodies decreases. By comparison, B cells and T cells (antibodies) are much better at recognizing the measles and rubella viruses.

The three major salivary glands   Mumps affects the parotid glandThe three major salivary glands Mumps affects the parotid glandShould Americans be worried about the mumps virus? An outbreak of mumps cases among vaccinated individuals does not mean people should choose not to receive the vaccine. Vaccination has been the best method of reducing spread of the virus with reported cases reduced by 99%. Even though it has been making headlines, the virus has never really completely eradicated in the United States. Despite a high success rate, individuals who receive both doses of the vaccine still have a chance of contracting the virus. Half of the world’s population does not even receive a mumps vaccination of any kind and hundreds of thousands of cases occur each year. This makes travelers an easy vessel for bringing the virus stateside.

The spread of the Mumps virus is probably not going away anytime soon. According to Dr. Greg Wallace, the Lead of the domestic measles, mumps, rubella, and polio team at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia says that the NHL would need to go about 50 days without a new case before being considered free of the disease. With new players being diagnosed each week, there is still a long way to go before this problem has been contained.

By Daniel J. Steiger

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To see further articles on the environment by Daniel please go to http://www.dpnlive.com/index.php/news/general-news/environment

You can Tweet, Like us on Facebook, Share, Google+, Pinit, print and email from the top of this article.

Copyright © 2015, DPNLIVE – All Rights Reserved.

 

News - General News - Environment

  • Flint Water Plant
    May 13, 2016

    The Flint Water Crisis

    How a failure in government led created a tragedy. By Daniel J. Steiger “I’ve got your…
    3279
  • Satimat swatch
    Nov 20, 2015

    Satimat Swatch Updated

    Antalis produces new Satimat swatch. Antalis UK has produced a new Satimat swatch. The…
    2981
  • In 2015 wildfires have burned over 8 9 million acres of land in the United States
    Sep 25, 2015

    Fighting Fires

    Wild fires are raging out of control in the Western U.S. As a wildfire raged through…
    3409
  • Cecil the Lion
    Sep 11, 2015

    Africa’s Big Game

     The killing of Cecil the Lion is a small piece of a huge issue. Walter Palmer quickly…
    3155
  • Great White Shark
    Jul 31, 2015

    When Sharks Attack

    Do swimmers have to be afraid to enter coastal Carolina waters? The very mention of…
    3119
  • Currents of the Atlantic Ocean
    Jun 19, 2015

    The Atlantic Ocean Is Cooling Down

    Temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean will alter weather conditions around the…
    3393
  • Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang
    May 29, 2015

    All Aboard the Amazon Express

    China Announces Plans to Build a Railway Through the Amazon Rainforest Chinese Prime…
    3970
  • Mimaki Inks attain GREENGUARD GOLD Accreditation
    May 25, 2015

    Mimaki Inks Receive GREENGUARD GOLD Accreditation

    The benefits of original Mimaki inks further emphasised by latest GREENGUARD GOLD…
    3459
  • Lead Was Phased out of gasoline in the U S beginning in 1976
    May 15, 2015

    Get The Lead Out

    Many years after removing lead from product, poisoning is still an issue. For those who…
    3695
  • limbitless solutions
    Apr 24, 2015

    Is 3d Printing Environmentally Friendly?

     This technology is making an impact, but is it all positive? Limbitless Solutions is a…
    4071
  • 9 8 billion K-cups were sold in 2014
    Mar 27, 2015

    A Conveniently Growing Problem

    *K-Cups have experienced explosive growth but not all is great with the popular…
    4145
  • A view of the sunrise on top of Mount Haleakala
    Mar 18, 2015

    The Aloha State

    Hawaii may seem perfect, but it is not problem free! It is an exhilarating experience…
    3666
  • Earthquake damage on a roadway
    Feb 06, 2015

    Earthquakes That Are Man Made?

    Earthquakes are occurring in areas where they were once rare. When the topic of…
    4066
  • Jan 09, 2015

    The NHL Has The Mumps

    The virus gains attention as it spreads through hockey. While the National Hockey League…
    4348
  • A roof collapsed at Schmidt's Collision and Glass after taking heavy snowfall
    Dec 05, 2014

    How Much Snow Is Too Much?

    Even snowy Buffalo, NY gets challenged by winter weather. There are not too many things…
    4190
  • Power Plant
    Nov 24, 2014

    Let’s Make A Deal (on emissions)

    Can an agreement work between the world’s leading carbon emitters? As we progress toward…
    5059
  • cat & coyote
    Oct 31, 2014

    While The Coyotes Away The Cats Will Play

     What happens when the coyote adapts to city life? Do you know where your cat goes at…
    4436
  • Symptoms of Ebola
    Oct 17, 2014

    Ebola in America

    Is this deadly disease a real threat, or just sensationalized! Thomas Eric Duncan arrived…
    4394
  • climate summit march New York September 2014
    Oct 03, 2014

    The Peoples Climate March

    Massive numbers of people gather for climate change. Driving in Manhattan is a fun…
    4379
  • Tesla Model S
    Sep 16, 2014

    Tesla's Announces New Battery Plant

    Can Tesla produce a more affordable electric vehicle? Tesla Motors Inc made headlines on…
    4337
  • the look of a curious mind Daniel Steiger
    Aug 23, 2014

    Ladies And Gentlemen: The Beetles

    Nauseating little creatures that can impact the future. Beetles are very impactful in…
    4553
  • The Look of a Curious Mind
    Aug 08, 2014

    Yeast Rising

    A tiny microbe capable of amazing things. Many people in the United States have taken to…
    3913
  • the look of a curious mind
    Jul 18, 2014

    Turtle Crossing

    A very unusual reason for flight delays. John F Kennedy international airport sits 12…
    11650
  • The Look of a Curious Mind
    Jun 27, 2014

    All About Coral.

    Small organisms that carry a lot of weight. The warmer months provide me with a great…
    4561
  • L - R Jacinta Sullivan, Project Hangup with David  Borrington from Dekkle Printmaking Studio
    Jun 06, 2014

    Project Hangup

    Antalis lends support to latest design-led ‘Project Hangup’ environmental…
    4771
  • Two Sides Logo
    May 30, 2014

    Is Greenwashing Returning?

    Are Banks reneging on promises to move away from misleading environmental marketing? It…
    5786
  • The Look of a Curious Mind
    May 09, 2014

    A Whale Of A Tale

    The World’s Largest Animal is Quite Intriguing. One of my favorite exhibits at the…
    4764
  • the look of a curious mind
    Apr 25, 2014

    Yellowstone: Is it going to blow?

    Recent activity at Yellowstone National Park has people wondering.I saw a video recently…
    4920
  • the look of a curious mind
    Apr 04, 2014

    Oil And Water Don’t Mix

    The Galveston Bay oil spill looms large in a region still recovering from a previous…
    4488
  • the look of a curious mind
    Mar 14, 2014

    Everything Is Drying Up

    California’s Record Drought may only be just beginning. California has grabbed many…
    4037
  • the look of a curious mind
    Feb 21, 2014

    Microbes Are The Good Guys

    Extreme organisms that are not only important, they may change science. The nature of…
    5085
  • the look of a curious mind
    Feb 01, 2014

    Maintaining Balance

    Simple changes can have a profound effect on ecosystems. The Leeds Pond Preserve sits…
    4578
  • the look of a curious mind
    Jan 10, 2014

    Shaping Our Future

    Advances in technology will change the way we get energy It seems very easy to get…
    4405
  • the look of a curious mind
    Nov 29, 2013

    Preserve The Preserve

    Educating youth plays an important role in the environment. At a recent holiday event at…
    4551
  • Daniel Steiger - the look of a curious mind
    Nov 15, 2013

    Watch Out! There’s A Hurricane Coming Through

    Is global warming causing tropical activity to increase? It was pure luck that I was able…
    5161
  • The look of a curious mind
    Oct 25, 2013

    Who’s Afraid Of A GMO?

    Engineered food product debate continues in the US. It was interesting to see a group of…
    5058
  • Shelf of nappies
    Sep 14, 2012

    The Nappy Mountain

    Parents anxious to reduce their children’s carbon foot print and are looking for…
    8385
  • NatureNetting at London Olympics 2012
    Sep 07, 2012

    New Environmentally Friendly Material from CERES MEDIA INTERNATIONAL

    A Compostable Screening Material Currently Approved and Available Commercially. UK based…
    5247
  • Petrol-tank
    Aug 03, 2012

    The environmental cost of diesel laundering

    Multi-million euro business costs the exchequer over 100m a year in lost tax revenue. It…
    9236
  • Old style garden
    Jul 06, 2012

    The vanishing gardens of suburbia

    What is the result of this cementing over of once green earth? When my family came to…
    8588
  • Green-Room-garden---Bloom-2012
    Jun 20, 2012

    Blooming gardens

    Great to look at but do they pose environmental difficulties The typical Irish urban…
    10487
  • Jun 08, 2012

    The case of the disappearing bees

    Each spring, the pear farmers of Sichuan province in China get out their ladders and…
    10112

Newsletter Signup

Signup to our newsletter