More local staph outbreaks reported

A small number of suburban school officials reported new cases of drug-resistant staph infections on Friday while at the same time reassuring parents not to panic.

"We are aware of the situation and we're covering all our bases," said Tony Sanders, spokesman for Elgin Area School District U-46.

Staph outbreaks were reported on Friday at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, West Aurora High School and Fearn Elementary School in North Aurora.

Earlier this week, cases of MRSA, or drug-resistant staph, were reported at schools in Naperville, Rolling Meadows, Gurnee, Huntley, Streamwood, Schiller Park, Bellwood, Woodstock and Joliet Township.

Neither school districts nor health departments are required to track individual cases, so it's unknown how many exist in the suburbs. However, state health officials have proposed a rule change requiring health care providers to report three or more lab-confirmed cases during a two-week period to local health departments.

While Holy Angels Catholic School in Aurora was closed on Thursday after it was notified there is a confirmed case of MRSA, or drug-resistant staph, at the school, other schools aren't taking such drastic measures.

For example, despite the Fearn incident, the North Aurora Mothers Club's annual Halloween Party for the community at Fearn is still on for Sunday.

A student at Cooper Middle School in Buffalo Grove was diagnosed with MRSA last week. William Harrison, president of the Wheeling Township Elementary District 21 board, said the custodians at the school disinfected all the drinking fountains, faucets, door handles, desktops and locker rooms at the school.

A letter to parents was sent out Tuesday, Harrison said.

In early October, a Glenbard North student was diagnosed with MRSA. The student is back at school, according to Peg Mannion spokeswoman for Glenbard Township High School District 87.

U-46 has seen one MRSA case at Canton Middle School in Streamwood. On Friday, the district sent out an information sheet to all 41,000 U-46 homes telling parents how to avoid MRSA, Sanders.

"We just want to make sure our parents are well informed," he said.

There is no cause for panic, health officials said, while also urging hand-washing and proper wound care. The infection spreads through skin-to-skin contact and shared personal items such as towels and razors.

The majority of suburban school districts have no staph outbreaks, but are ready if a student should become sick.

"We feel fortunate in that we have not had any outbreaks," said Todd Stirn, assistant superintendent for administrative services in Burlington-based Central School District 301. "But we've taken proactive steps in our district to deal with it. We're trying to be prepared."