Two more students at Severna Park High School had confirmed cases of staphylococcus Friday morning, bringing this year?s total of confirmed cases to seven.
“We now have five confirmed cases in students ? four of whom are athletes ? and two confirmed cases in adults,” said Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesman Bob Mosier.
The adults are staff members who had confirmed staph over the summer but have now been treated, he said.
Principal Jason Dykstra sent a letter home to parents Tuesday, saying “six individuals” developed “symptoms” of staphylococcus skin infections since the beginning of the school year.
Mosier said the letter referred to three confirmed student cases, a suspected student case and the two older adult cases.
“The two new cases have come to the school?s attention after the letter was sent out to the parents,” Mosier said. “Now whether they?re related, I don?t know.”
The Anne Arundel Health Department became aware of the incidents Monday evening, said health department spokesman Elin Jones.
The school is cleaning and disinfecting the locker rooms, showers and bathrooms in the physical education and athletic areas, believed sources of the infection, according to Dykstra?s letter.
“The health department has suggested we go to a hospital-grade cleaner,” Mosier said.
“We?ve ordered it and will be using it tonight as a precautionary measure.”
The stronger anti-bacterial solution now will be used regularly at all 12 high schools.
A staph infection occurs when the staph bacteria enters the skin through cuts, scrapes or other breaks in the skin like tattoos and body piercing.
Prevention tips include washing hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and not sharing personal items such as towels, clothing and razors, said Dr. Kelly Russo, of the county health department.
