Gov. Tim Kaine created a new state regulation Wednesday requiring laboratories to alert the state when a patient tests positive for a drug-resistant strain of staph infection.
The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has raised concerns across the region following the death of a high school senior in rural Bedford County last week.
“Our public healthcommunity is very concerned about the growing challenge of monitoring and controlling MRSA in both health care and community settings,” Kaine said.
The D.C. Council is considering legislation to reduce the spread of drug-resistant staph bacteria by starting the fight where the bug is most prevalent — in hospitals.
Maryland public schools reported additional cases Wednesday, including the first infection in Prince George’s County Public Schools, said spokesman John White. A student at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School was tested and treated in September and has returned to class.
Montgomery County Public Schools reported two additional cases, increasing its total to 22, spokeswoman Kate Harrison said.
A recent medical study reported that more than 19,000 people died of the infection in 2005 nationwide, raising concern about the infection.
Kaine said last week there should have been a notification requirement to alert the Virginia Department of Health about the most dangerous staph cases.
There are few state statistics about MRSA infections because there had been no reporting requirements for the infections.
“We will have a better count and a better understanding of what is out there,” state Health Department spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell said.
State Health Commissioner Robert B. Stroube said the new requirements will provide “vital insight” into how the disease spreads.
Despite the recent concern about school cases, the new regulation does not alert schools to positive tests, said Jon Almquist, administrator for athletics in Fairfax County, where six athletes have tested positive. There have been no clustered cases.
Prince William County Public Schools has reported 16 cases spread among 13 schools.
Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Manassas City and Alexandria City schools have reported cases of MRSA staph infections and tried to address concerns about the problem.
The recent cases are a hot topic for parents and are going to be discussed at an upcoming Virginia Parent and Teacher Association Convention this week, organization president Dianne Florence said.
“We are going to inform our parents and teacher members what they can do to help our schools and communities contain this virus,” Florence said.
Courtney Mabeus and Michael Neibauer contributed to this report.
