Newsfeed
Printer-Friendly ModeSVSU's response to MRSA more than adequate
November 19, 2007 —
A GOOD WAY TO MAKE THE HEADLINES -
SVSU's response to the wildly overblown MRSA 'threat' has not only been appropriate, but maybe even excessive. An e-mail was sent to the campus community, first of all, which pointed out specific safe hygiene practices that can make contracting the disease on accident highly unlikely.
Add to that an interview with a local health professional posted on the University's Web site, and any fears should be put at east.
We're not in the midst of an outbreak here. If anything, the isolated infection of four SVSU students has served as a way to notify the campus and surrounding communities of the illness and how to combat it.
SVSU has done a pretty good job cluing in everyone who might be affected by the illness, sending out one e-mail, posting an interview with a disease specialist on the Web site, and even holding an open forum to discuss guidelines for preventing contraction of the bacteria.
If there is anyone that still doesn't know what MRSA is, how it's transmitted, and what can be done to prevent it, that person probably lives under a rock, or in a Living Center suite playing Halo all day.
MRSA made headlines in papers around the area, but most articles focused on how to prevent an infection (which, it turns out, is a rather simple task). So, in short, there is not an oncoming epidemic. Some headlines were printed in scary bold fonts, but in reality, the community has nothing to be scared of.
Staying healthy is downright basic, even if you were surrounded by a locker room of wrestlers, all of whom possessed the bacteria.
Routine and thorough hand washing is the easiest and most reliable way to avoid contracting the illness. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that there are five ways by which the bacteria are spread: crowding, frequent skin contact, 'compromised' skin (wounded/scarred flesh), contaminated surfaces, and a lack of cleanliness.
All of which can be negated by just washing your hands, and wiping down your counters once in a while.
Another health professional interviewed in the Saginaw News said that leaving athletics clothes around in gym bags or just on the floor is also a good way to promote the spread of the bacteria.
So wash those rotting gym shorts every couple of days. We know it's hard, but we'll all benefit from it in the end. You wouldn't want your favorite pair of Champions held responsible for sending your friends to the hospital after everyone starts breaking out in giant zits.
As is the case with many health-related issues, just using common sense is a good way to avoid getting sick. SVSU has communicated this to the campus community quickly and effectively, countering news reports wildly exggerating the threat of the infectious bacteria.