The recent news of West High School sophomore hospitalized with staph infection has prompted school districts across Kern County to take a proactive approach.
The Kern County Superintendent of School's office has now provided information to every superintendent in Kern County with information about MRSA.
For many parents, the words staph infection prompts a lot of concern for children in school.
That is why state and county leaders have teamed up to dispel any fears to parents that their kids are at risk.
When West High School officials were informed that a student could have possibly been infected by the superbug. The principal says he called local health authorities, asking them what needed to be done to keep his students safe from the illness.
Dean McGee, the Principal of West High School said, "Its everywhere and to isolate it to the school is erroneous, especially when the school is doing everything the school could do to make it a safe, secure environment, educated the kids on what they need to do."
Dean McGee says his school is kept clean and says that the Kern High School District makes unannounced visits to check on the sanitation of all schools periodically.
Now there is a stronger emphasis on campus of personal hygiene.
As an educator, i'm not surprised about what we have to teach students, because students are generally young, growing into adults and they've got a lot to learn.
The principal says teachers have been talking with students, informing them of what has been done to make the school safe and to ease any concerns they may have.
Kern County Public Health Department brochures on MRSA went out to Superintendents within the District and the County in an effort to remind people how things should be handled, cleaned up and taken care of.
The disease can spread by skin to skin contact.
They said there's a very slim chance you'll catch MRSA unless you have a weak immune system or open infections.
