At Seton Hill University (SHU), there have been rumors of an outbreak of scabies and staph infections among students. In reality, there has been one case of scabies and nine cases of staph. Those students have been treated successfully and have returned to their normal activities.
�It’s not an outbreak, but a contained instance,� said Molly Shimko, associate vice president of institutional advancement.
By Kayla Sawyer,
Staff Writer
At Seton Hill University (SHU), there have been rumors of an outbreak of scabies and staph infections among students. In reality, there has been one case of scabies and nine cases of staph. Those students have been treated successfully and have returned to their normal activities.
�It’s not an outbreak, but a contained instance,� said Molly Shimko, associate vice president of institutional advancement.
Scabies is caused by a microscopic mite called Sarcoptes scabei.
A person become infected with scabies through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact with some who is already infected.
�We put things in place so that treatment for scabies could be received. We told the student how to wash their bedding, held an informational floor meeting for that floor, and the student’s carpet was cleaned,� said Charmaine Strong, dean of students. �Education is the key to everything. We want students to have an environment that is wholesome and healthy.�
It was rumored that the staph infections were linked to a practice field and students were getting infected from stretching out on the field.
It was also rumored that if several players were infected, their season would be cancelled.
The turf has been tested and was found to be free of contamination.
Staph is a treatable infection and executive athletic director Chris Snyder confirmed that there is no truth to the possibility of a cancelled season.
�What students say, how they keep things going, and how misinformation perpetuates is just part of being in a community – as are bugs and infections,� said Strong.
Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, is a common bacterium that many people have small quantities of on their skin at all times.
The problem arises when it enters the human body through an open cut or break in the skin.
Once diagnosed, antibiotics are prescribed and these antibiotics typically kill the bacteria and cure the infection within a few weeks.
View this writer’s profile.