Reprint from the Progress Times - November 16, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

MCISD confirms four cases of MRSA

After a week of concern in the La Joya area when three students were diagnosed with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), a strain of the more-commonly known staph infection, Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) announced the confirmation of two cases of MRSA at Waitz Elementary and Cavazos Elementary last week, followed by another two reports of students with MRSA at Alton Elementary and Veterans Memorial High School Thursday, November 15.

According to a letter addressed to parents sent out last Friday after the first two cases, November 9, the two initial campuses, Waitz Elementary and Cavazos, have been thoroughly disinfected.

According to Craig Verley of MCISD, the same will now be done at the two new campuses.

Staph is a common germ carried by many people in their skin with no effects. However, MRSA is a type of staph that has developed antibiotic resistance and since staph is spread primarily by direct human contact or with direct contact to infection drainage of someone who is carrying the bacteria, anyone with a break in the skin is at risk.

Symptoms of staph include redness on the skin, pain, swelling and boils.