Schools chief: Athlete has MRSA

Staff report

Newton Falls

Newton Falls Schools Superintendent Paul Woodward’s office confirmed Wednesday that a student athlete was diagnosed with MRSA and that the district had notified the community about the situation.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, MRSA is a strain of staph bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotics used to treat staph infections.

Because it was an isolated diagnosis, the Trumbull County Board of Health did not need to be notified.

“MRSA is not all that uncommon,” said James Enyeart, the county’s health commissioner.

According to the Trumbull County Department of Health, staph infections are often confused with spider bites or pimples and the spreading of the disease is most common among athletes. The department recommends athletes do not share personal items such as towels or razors.