While no outbreaks of the current staph bacterial infection have been reported in the local four-county region, it is getting too close for comfort. We agree that area schools and health departments should react appropriately by being proactive.

New York - While no outbreaks of the current staph bacterial infection have been reported in the local four-county region, it is getting too close for comfort. We agree that area schools and health departments should react appropriately by being proactive.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, or MRSA, was responsible for the death of a Virginia high school student last week, and since then numerous cases have been reported in New York _ as close to this area as Madison and Albany counties.

Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to as “staph,” is a bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people, according to the state Department of Health. Infection results when staph enters through a break in the skin. When MRSA occurs outside health-care facilities, in places such as schools, it is called community-associated MRSA.

According to Sen. Charles Schumer, staph infections were primarily confined to health-care settings such as hospitals, clinics and long-term, patient-care centers. But now the potentially fatal infections have been emerging as a very real threat in school districts across the state, with students in every region contracting the bacteria in recent weeks.

The bacteria is transmitted by person-to-person contact or use of contaminated items, including clothing and athletic equipment. Dr. Scott Cohen, of the Chenango County Health Department, said the infection is often is mistaken for a spider bite that grows into something hot, red and tender.

The state Health Department estimates that since 2001, it has assisted or investigated at least 10 community-associated MRSA outbreaks. Typically, they occur among high school or college athletic teams or in communal living situations. Just in the past month, however, that five-year total has been surpassed.

Because the state, over the past month, “has witnessed a tidal wave of staph cases popping up in schools,” Schumer on Wednesday said the U.S. Senate has approved emergency funding of $5 million to help stop the spread. However, the bill faces a veto threat from President Bush because of other factors.

The best prevention, however, is to use common sense about basic cleanliness and hygiene.

Delaware County public-health nurse Carol Howard says that includes frequent hand washing and not sharing towels and clothing.

To bolster those personal steps, however, many area schools are stepping up their regular clearing and disinfecting procedures as extra precautions, as well as keeping teachers and staff informed about prevention and curtailment.

We urge school officials to continue to be vigilant, parents to make sure their children understand the importance of cleanliness and caution, and health departments to keep a close watch on the situation.