Five Cornell students diagnosed with MRSA infection

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — try saying that one time fast) is at Cornell.

The Tab has learned about at least five cases of the disease among women at the University.

A senior, who we will refer to as Katie, was diagnosed this week after four of her friends had contracted the illness over the last month and a half.

All five women contacted Gannett to make them aware of their infections immediately after being diagnosed.

We reached out to Melissa Osgood, the deputy director of the media relations office at Cornell, who said Gannett Health Services and Five Star Urgent Care had been in contact and neither knew of any documented MRSA cases.

Katie said, “I think this is something that Cornell needs to recognize is a growing problem. MRSA isn’t something that can be taken care of with Advil or Tylenol.”

She is currently using a mix of five steroids, antibiotics and ointment as treatment, and has to take extreme measures such as bleaching her surroundings.

“It’s very easily spread and clearly isn’t being controlled throughout the Cornell community.”

When Katie called Gannett to tell them about her illness, she asked what the center was doing now that five students had contracted it. The nurse she spoke with said, “We don’t have an outbreak and we have heard nothing regarding MRSA spreading around Cornell … We have nothing over the normal amount.”

When asked what constitutes a normal amount, she declined to comment.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention says two per cent of the population carries MRSA and 33% has Staphylococcus aureus.

According to the University of Chicago Medicine’s MRSA Research Center, a person typically stays infected for “just under ten days” once treated.

You can catch MRSA if you are in close contact with an infected person, especially if you have a compromised immune system. It is common among athletes and people living in close quarters.

It used to be contracted mostly in hospitals, but is now infecting more groups including schools and even national sports teams.

This week the New York Giants called in disease control specialists after tight end Daniel Fells was diagnosed with MRSA.

An analysis conducted by USA Today in 2013 said that “MRSA cases now crop up just about anywhere that people are in close contact, particularly in environments where hygiene might be less than ideal. Infections from the bacteria are reported regularly in schools, athletic facilities, prisons — even NFL locker rooms.”

To avoid infection, clean your hands and do not share anything that may have come in contact with an open wound.

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