Link: Pine Bluff Commercial Online Edition.
Many students brought their own soap or sanitizer to school, district officials said, and student absences were up although officials didn’t know if the increase was a result of parents’ concerns.
Meanwhile, the state Health Department said the Tuesday closing at Palestine-Wheatley sparked concern among parents statewide regarding the cleanliness of public schools.
But the department said the infection is spread by person-to-person contact in most cases, and closing and cleaning schools has only "minimal impact" in preventing the infection.
"It’s extremely rare to develop MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) from contact with surfaces such as desks and cafeteria tables," the department said in a news release.
