Three students at Northampton Area High School now have methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a type of skin infection that can be fatal if not treated. Superintendent Linda Firestone says the students with /*MRSA*/ are getting medical care. She sent a letter to parents Wednesday urging good hygiene practices to prevent spreading the infection.
This is the second time within a year that the school had trouble with MRSA. In November 2007, parents of a student there notified the school that their child had the infection.
A Philadelphia high school student died of MRSA last month.
On the Net: School district's information:
http://www.northampton.k12.pa.us/news.cfm?story260
The number of cases of MRSA-infections acquired in the community has been growing over the past several years. Many people say the skin infection starts out looking like a pimple or boil and then quickly gets worse. If you notice what appears to be a boil or spider-bite and it is becoming more tender or red and swollen, you should visit your doctor so he or she can test for MRSA. There are anti-biotics available to treat the infection. To prevent MRSA: -Practice good hygeine including frequent and thorough hand-washing -Keep cuts and scraps clean and covered with a bandage -Do not share personal items such as razors or towels WPVI and wire service were used for this story.
