Staph outbreak reported at high school

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) - It was a boil on a cheerleader's arm that caught the faculty's attention when students returned from their winter break.

Eleven students were sent home with staph infections, and one more tested positive for MRSA.

MRSA-- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus --is a contagious bacterial infection that is resistant to commonly used antibiotics. It is potentially deadly.

The Athletic Department at Belen High School says they scrub their wrestling mats every day. It's where both the wrestling and cheerleading teams practice everyday, and the trainer thinks that's where the problem started.

"I don't know, honestly; we're trying to figure out what happened," said Athletic Trainer Rebecca Dominguez.  "We don't know if dirty clothes came into the picture. We don't know if it was heat."

The school closed the wrestling room and has since scrubbed it clean five times a day along with door knobs, light switches and the locker rooms.

Belen High canceled its wrestling matches last weekend.

"I did inform Albuquerque Public Schools and Mortiarty the reason why we weren't coming," said Belen Schools Athletic Coordinator Rodney Wright.  "I wanted to make sure to everyone that we certainly hadn't hid or tried to hide any of this."

No new cases have been reported since Monday.

All 12 students who were infected are taking antibiotics and are back in class. The wrestlers have been cleared to compete in their next tournament in Albuquerque.

No students will be allowed in the wrestling room for the rest of the week.

Letters were sent home to parents of student athletes currently in season to alert them of the situation.