{coyotes} NHL sends out additional memo to teams on mumps outbreak

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With 15 NHL players already diagnosed with the mumps and three more Pittsburgh Penguins, including goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, undergoing testing for the disease, the NHL sent out a second memo to all 30 teams on Wednesday, outlining clearer protocol than in the initial memo from November.

"I think it was far more specific is what I'd say," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN's Katie Strang. "We drilled down to specific expectations in terms of putting someone in charge at the club level to make sure things are getting handled appropriately. The basis of information hasn't changed. Everyone knows what the disease is, how it is transmitted, and the step that need to be taken to minimize outbreak."

While he acknowledges the need for extra precaution, Daly told Strang that he thinks the situation might be a bit overblown thanks to media coverage.

"The thing I take the most comfort in is that of most experts in the area here -- and we've talked to a lot – no one is as concerned as the media is," Daly told Strang.  "It's not this scourge that's going to end things for the league or force us to shut down."

The Centre for Disease Control estimates that 15 in 100 adults who contract the mumps may develop meninigitis, but Daly said the NHL doesn't see any more severe illnesses as a worry.

"I've been given no reason to believe there is anything to be concerned about beyond the mumps," Daly said.

As a result of the outbreak, a number of teams have postponed their annual holiday visits to area children's hospitals as a precaution, including the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders. The Penguins had their annual visit to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh last week and forward Beau Bennett was diagnosed with the mumps shortly thereafter. It's not believed that any children present at the visit have contracted the illness.

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