Staph News » Mississippi http://www.staphnews.com Your Source for Staph and MRSA News Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:20:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Shae Kiernan, 11, of Mississippi Succumbs to MRSA in Under 3 Days http://www.staphnews.com/staph-infections-by-location/mississippi/shae-kiernan-11-of-mississippi-succumbs-to-mrsa-in-under-3-days/ http://www.staphnews.com/staph-infections-by-location/mississippi/shae-kiernan-11-of-mississippi-succumbs-to-mrsa-in-under-3-days/#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:26:15 +0000 Staph News Editor http://www.staphnews.com/staph-infections-by-location/mississippi/shae-kiernan-11-of-mississippi-succumbs-to-mrsa-in-under-3-days/ A methicillin-resistant staph infection (MRSA) has left a small community in Jackson County, Mississippi stunned after claiming the life of 11-year-old Shae Kiernan of Vancleave on Friday, October 12, 2007. One of three American children to succumb to the disease in recent weeks, her uncle told the Mississippi Press that what started as a fever developed into a full-blown infection and took the girl’s life in less than three days. The family had not observed any cuts or wounds on the child. She was hospitalized at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, but did not respond to treatments.

Although Shae Kiernan was infected with a community-acquired strain of MRSA, the Jackson County school district has opted not to close schools for disinfection, citing adequate cleaning methods as the reason no further cleansing is indicated. Margaret Bush, interim schools superintendent for Jackson County encouraged parents not to be concerned for their children’s health because no increase in staph infections has been reported.

Statistical data on the prevalence of MRSA in Mississippi is not available because the Mississippi Department of Health does not require mandatory reporting of individual staph infections.

The family of Shae Kiernan is seeking help for her parents who are unable to cover medical expenses and burial costs. Donations can be made to the Shae Kiernan Benefit Fund at any Hancock Bank branch.

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