Prince William County Schools Superintendent Steven Walts will describe how the Northern Virginia staph infections affected schools in testimony before a congressional committee Wednesday.
Federal lawmakers concerned about the drug-resistant form of staph infection raising fears nationwide are holding a hearing to study the government response to the bacteria threat.
The death of a Virginia high school student in Bedford County and a recent medical study tying an estimated 19,000 deaths to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MSRA) spurred the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to study the issue. Walts will speak about the 21 cases involving students andstaff members that led to school bus scrub-downs and parent notifications across the suburban county, presenting some suggestions on how to handle the scare it experienced last month more smoothly, schools spokesman Ken Blackstone said.
“These are observations from … a real-life example of how this affects you at the school district level,” Blackstone said.
Dr. James Burns of the Virginia Department of Health will address the state’s reaction, which has included requiring that labs report all serious cases of MRSA.
“The committee will look at how local, state and federal officials are working together to both understand the prevalence of the bacteria, how it’s transmitted and how it can be prevented,” said David Marin, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., the ranking Republican on the House committee.
Recent reporting of local drug-resistant infection cases in Prince William, Fairfax and Montgomery counties prompted thorough cleanings and extra emphasis on hygiene and treating wounds to minimize the spread of MRSA bacteria across the D.C. area. Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Julie Gerberding’s testimony on the bacteria is set to start the 9:15 a.m. hearing.
