Why is the flu so prevalent in hockey leagues such as the NHL?

Cold conditions,Traveling together. Air travel ,Most of these guys have kids and pick up bugs from them and then it spreads around the team. Many reasons

Cold has nothing to do with it. The Flu is a virus that is easily spread and contagious especially when you consider living conditions and work in this case. Theses guys are so close to each other, so often, hence the flu spreads like embers from a wildfire in a locker room and most are affected in various stages. It takes a while to rid the team of the flu in most cases. Chicago supposedly has the flu so it is natural to hear Kane being out now and others possibly having the flu and either playing through it or recovering from it.

Hockey season coincides with the cold/flu season. The actual number of cases of flu are up everywhere at that time. it would be transmitted easily by any number of people in close proximity - water bottles, the bench, in locker rooms, airplanes, hotels. Have you ever read "The Stand"?

Perhaps "flu" is used as a generic cover-all term for any number of illnesses. Most people use the term incorrectly anyway.

It has more to do with players being in relatively close quarters for extended periods of time. They also share water bottles during practices and games. Bob is correct, the cold conditions have nothing to do with getting the flu. It is about germs being spread.

Many teams list a non-playing player with "flu-like symptoms" for everything from food poisoning to broken ankles. This satisfies the league's demands for injury lists and gives opponents less-than-ideal information about lingering injuries.

Yeah the cold can reduce the effectiveness of your immune system and the environment is good for passing around germs but I think its mostly a load of crap. Teams just use it as an excuse...something to write on the injury report when they don't want to disclose an actual injury to a player.

The constant dramatic change from the cold/arid ice into a totally different atmosphere can cause a lack of strength in immunities, therefore, causing sickness.

Well that and the fact that they spit and blown their noses on the bench! that's really disgusting. You'd think they'd be smart enough to get a freaking flu shot don't cha think?

They all share water bottles and pass their germs around. High school hockey teams are notorious for passing around mononucleosis.

flu season is over. any infectious disease -viral or bacterial- is often passed by poor handwashing techniques. these bugs thrive in all temps.