Caps Defend Against Swine Flu
Laing out with H1N1
Updated 1:00 PM EST, Wed, Oct 28, 2009
WASHINGTON -- As neither children nor pregnant women nor health care providers nor first responders, professional hockey players get no special swine flu vaccine treatment, and the virus is creeping onto the ice.
The Washington Capitals forward Quintin Laing has the H1N1 virus, making him at least the third NHL player to be diagnosed with the illness this week, the team said.
That may be why a security guard outside the team's dressing room asked everyone to use hand sanitizer before entering Tuesday night, Capitals Insider reported.
Capitals spokesman Nate Ewell told The Associated Press that Laing is being treated for H1N1 and is being kept away from the rest of the team, lest he infect a player actually producing on the ice.
Laing sat out Washington's 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night and will miss at least the next two games, too.
No other members of the Capitals have shown symptoms of the swine flu, Ewell said.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Ladislav Smid and Colorado Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj have the swine flu, their teams announced Tuesday.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Washington
First Published: Oct 28, 2009 11:47 AM EST
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