Parise & Pominville Out: What's with the Mumps in the NHL?

For the second time in three seasons, the mumps are alive and well in the Wild locker room and the NHL -- this time sidelining Zach Parise and Jason Pominville for five days. Both missed last night's game as well as Monday's. 'Like quit sharing water bottles guys.'

Suter, Brodin, Scandella, Folin, and Ballard all came down with the mumps two seasons ago -- the year more than 20 officials and players (from six different teams) were diagnosed with the virus.

This week the Minnesota Wild have joined the Vancouver Canucks in reporting players with the infection. The two teams played on February 4th, and the CDC says incubation period is 12-25 days. Do the math.

According to the CDC:

The Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, followed by swollen salivary glands. You can protect yourself and your family against mumps with vaccination.

Some on the Wild coaching staff have also been reported to showing symptoms. The Wild face the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday night in Ohio.