MRSA Affects Friday Night Football In Pittsburgh

A serious staph infection is impacting Friday night lights in Mt. Lebanon.

The Allegheny County Health Department tested the turf on Thursday at the high school after 10 athletes contracted MRSA. Now Bethel Park High School is taking some precautions as its football team prepares to travel to Mt. Lebanon on Friday to take on the Blue Devils.

A letter posted on the Bethel Park School District Web site warns athletes to cover all exposed skin; wash skin well with anti-bacterial soap; and cover any cuts or abrasions with clean, dry bandages.

While some Bethel Park parents voiced concerns about possible contamination, players told Channel 11 they are not going to let the threat affect their play.

Player Jay Bruce said, "It always raises an eyebrow to hear about that. We're going to treat it like any other Friday." "I think I'm more concerned about the 10 kids over there that contracted the infection,” player Alex Tarr said.

Bethel Park parents like Debra Tarr does want her son to play Friday but wishes the district would have come up with another plan. "I thought that we should play on a different field all together. Not Bethel, per se, but just a different field so that the boys wouldn't be contaminated at all."

The game begins at 7:30 p.m. at Mt. Lebanon Stadium. Channel 11 will be there. Watch at 11:15 p.m. for highlights from the game on Skylights.

LINKS: - Bethel Park School District - Mt. Lebanon School District

Previous Stories: October 18, 2007: Pittsburgh Health Officials Search For MRSA Source October 18, 2007: Pets May Spread MRSA Infection To Owners October 18, 2007: Staph Infections Grow Among Teen Athletes September 19, 2007: Health Department Warns Public About MRSA September 17, 2007: Jail Officials Investigate Staph Infection Outbreak September 14, 2007: Staph Infection Reported At More Local Schools September 11, 2007: Seneca Valley Student Diagnosed With Staph Infection