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Junior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 24
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 24
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Hi Desi,
It's in our paper today about a student having MRSA (Licking County/OH).
It says there are Ohio Department of Health Guidelines - concerning precautions and cleaning.
Watkins Person Diagnosed With Staph
School District Taking Precautions
By ABBEY STIRGWOLT
Advocate Reporter
PATASKALA -- Although Watkins Memorial High School is "taking necessary precautions" after the discovery Friday morning of virulent staph infection MRSA, one case isn't enough for worry, Southwest Licking Local Schools Superintendent Forest Yocum said.
"There's only one person who has been identified, so we're working with the health department and following the recommendations of the health department," he said.
MRSA began making national headlines earlier this month when a government study reported almost 19,000 people in the United States die each year from the germ and about 90,000 become infected.
Several cases recently have been reported in schools around Ohio and in several other states.
Though previously thought to be most common in hospitals and health care facilities, concern spread to schools, and especially gyms, where skin-to-skin contact and sharing of items, such as towels or sports equipment, can be more frequent.
Yocum said he learned of the case Friday morning. Southwest Licking Local Schools sent letters Friday to parents notifying them one case had been discovered. The letter also contained information about symptoms and protection of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a drug-resistant strain that causes skin infections and is highly contagious.
"Please know that all district buildings are following guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health regarding prevention of MRSA, including proper cleaning of school facilities," the letter stated.
Yocum said school would remain in session, and Friday's Watkins Memorial home football game against Dublin Scioto was not affected.
"There was not an athlete that was infected," he said. "It was not from locker rooms or anything."
He added that, to his knowledge, the person infected was not an athlete.
"We don't even know if a person contracted it at the school," he said.
What is it?
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is an antibiotic-resistant bacteria that frequently causes skin infections and can be difficult to treat. It can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, direct contact with infected wound drainage or contact with contaminated surfaces or things such as sports equipment. It is not spread through the air.
Symptoms
Signs of MRSA include redness, warmth, swelling and tenderness. It may appear as a bite, boil, abscess or pimple.
Prevention
Ways to protect against MRSA:
Wash hands with soap and water and/or disinfectant.
Cover open skin with clean, dry bandages.
Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
Use barriers, such as clothing or towels, between skin and shared equipment.
Wipe surfaces of equipment before and after use.
Source: Ohio Department of Health
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