Five Confirmed MRSA Infections in Akron Public Schools, Dozens More Throughout Ohio
Posted on November 10, 2007
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An Akron Public Schools press conference on Friday, November 9, 2007 revealed that two adults and three children at five separate schools have contracted methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. The confirmed MRSA infections occurred in individuals at Barrett Academy, Firestone Park Elementary School, Harris Elementary School, David Hill Community Learning Center and Voris Community Learning Center.
A recent upswing in news coverage of MRSA has propelled the potentially lethal staph infection into the spotlight, prompting school administrators and medical professionals around the United States to place renewed emphasis on early detection and prevention. The Akron Public Schools Superintendent told parents that the school facilities were cleaned, and reassured them that even before these five MRSA cases were diagnosed, the schools were cleaned regularly with broad-spectrum, germ-killing solutions.
All five cases in the Akron Public Schools are being treated by doctors, and the patients are expected to recover. Since last month, MRSA infections have been diagnosed in students throughout the state of Ohio. Some of the affected schools are:
- Amherst: Steele High School
- Bay Village: Bay High School
- Chillicothe: The Ross County/Ohio University-Chillicothe Child Development and Family Service Center
- Cincinnati: Winton Woods High School
- Columbus: Columbus State Community College
- Dublin: Thomas Elementary School
- Garfield Heights: William Foster Elementary School
- Holland: Springfield High School
- Lakewood: Lakewood City Academy at Lakewood High School
- Marengo: Highland West Elementary School
- Marion: Ohio State University at Marion
- Mason: Mason Early Childhood Center
- Mason: Mason Heights Elementary
- Medina: Buckeye Senior High School
- Medina: Highland Middle School
- New Albany: New Albany Elementary School
- Niles: Niles McKinley High School
- Pickerington: Pickerington North High School
- Struthers: Struthers Elementary School
- West Union: West Union High School
In addition, possible infections have been identified at Eagle Heights Academy and West Elementary School.
The state of Ohio keeps statistics on MRSA infection outbreaks that involve multiple patients, but does not track individual cases of staph, including MRSA. Close to 100 people have been affected by MRSA outbreaks in Ohio in 2007.
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