Possible MRSA Case: School Cancels Classes

Cathedral Catholic High School has cancelled classes until Monday due to a possible case of MRSA on campus

Classes at Cathedral Catholic High School on Del Mar Heights Road have been suspended until Monday due to a possible case of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA, in one of their students.

The school announced the closure on their website Thursday, adding that all activities on campus have also been suspended through Sunday, so maintenance personnel can clean and sanitize all school facilities.

Administrators said activities including athletic events and a school play will be rescheduled for alternative dates.

Classes will resume Monday as normal.

School administrators said they’re cancelling classes as a precaution, in the best interest of their students, families and employees.

MRSA is a bacteria that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's more difficult to treat than some strains of staph, as it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.

β€œIt's spread by crowded living conditions, contact with contaminated surfaces, frequent skin contact with other people, sharing contaminated items; [those] are all risk factors to getting MRSA,” said Shilla Patel, a clinical epidemiologist with Scripps Mercy Hospital.

Experts say it’s rare for schools to close an entire campus due to MRSA, at least if all the preventive measures are followed.

This includes washing your hands often, covering scrapes and wounds and disinfecting surfaces thoroughly.

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