Key result
Professional hockey team respiratory outbreak linked to 8 different community-acquired viruses.
Why the study?
The impact of viral acute respiratory infections on ice hockey players was unclear.
Observational
No
Respiratory outbreaks in sports teams may be caused by multiple concurrent viruses contracted from the community rather than a single spreading pathogen.
Team sports respiratory outbreaks may involve multiple community viruses; leaves open optimal prevention beyond standard measures.
BACKGROUND: Viral acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are an important cause of illness in athletes. However, their impact on ice hockey players is unclear. METHOD: We describe an outbreak of ARIs in a professional ice hockey team. RESULTS: Contrary to expected influenza, the 40-day outbreak was caused by 8 different respiratory viruses, that is, 2 different influenza A viruses, human coronavirus-NL63 (HCoV-NL63), respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) A and B, 2 different rhinoviruses, enterovirus D68, and parainfluenza type 2 virus. CONCLUSION: Only influenza A and HCoV-NL63 were possibly spread within the team thus suggesting an important contraction from the community. The burden of illness was substantial.
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Grönroos et al. (2024) conducted an observational in Acute respiratory infections. Respiratory viral infections was evaluated on Identified respiratory viruses causing the outbreak. A 40-day outbreak of acute respiratory infections in a professional ice hockey team was caused by 8 different respiratory viruses, suggesting significant contraction from the community.
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