Two elementary schools are among the seven new cases of the antibiotic-resistant strain of staphylococcus in the Baltimore region this school year.
This week, Anne Arundel had five more confirmed cases of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and Howard, two, school officials said.
“None of these cases are new and are from a September onset or earlier,” said Anne Arundel schools spokesman Bob Mosier on Friday.
“The issue [for confirming them] is getting permission from the parents to get the information from the doctors. This can take a while.”
The affected students have all been treated and are back in school, he said.
In addition to Severna Park and Chesapeake high schools, Point Pleasant was the first affected elementary school in Anne Arundel, Mosier said.
In Howard, Gorman Crossing Elementary was hit along with Oakland Mills Middle School, said Howard schools spokeswoman Patti Caplan.
“We?ve gotten word that we?ll continue to [report confirmed cases] until further notice,” Caplan said.
“We?ll make a determination as the year goes on.”
In addition to Howard and Anne Arundel, Carroll public schools have the next highest number of cases.
“We can say it?s spread out over schools with no more than one or two per school,” said Carey Gaddis, Carroll school system spokeswoman.
MRSA is a type of staph infection that?s resistant to some antibiotics commonly used to treat skin infections.
Confirmed cases of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus this year:
Anne Arundel: 12
Baltimore City: 0
Baltimore County: 2
Carroll: 6 *
Harford: 1 (student, but a non-school setting)
Howard: 11
* Carroll officials originally said 13 cases existed, but they were self-reported and not confirmed.
Source: County school systems and health departments
