NEW YORK – Health officials determined that a drug-resistant strain of bacteria caused the death of a Brooklyn middle school student who died Oct. 14. The bacteria is predominantly found in hospitals, however it has recently surfaced at other locations, particularly educational facilities.
According to one of his classmates, Omar Rivera (the victim) had sores on his legs and back weeks prior to his death. Health officials are unable to confirm whether Rivera contracted the infection at the school, however, they said that for some reason, he was more susceptible to it. For most people, the infection is mild and only limited to the skin, but those with a weak immune system are more likely to have a harsher reaction to it.
A letter was sent out informing parents of the student’s death from the infection and that the school had been uncontaminated. It also told parents that the best way to prevent infections is hand washing.
Schools in the New York area and other states have reported cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA. There have been three deaths related to the infection in New Hampshire, Virginia and Mississippi.
Health officials have not determined whether they are going to close the school.
Previously, cases of the infection at nonhospital locations were not mandatory to report, however, the Board of Health recently agreed to consider requiring nonhospital locations to report cases.
