PORT TOWNSEND – The Port Townsend High School football season ended early Thursday after a player was diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant strain of staphyloccosus.
Port Townsend School District Superintendent Tom Opstad said the 1 p.m. Saturday game scheduled against Steilacoom at Jefferson County Memorial Field in Port Townsend was canceled as a precaution.
The student player, a senior, was reported to school officials Wednesday as having contracted methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureaus bacteria, or MRSA (pronounced mur-sah), infection.
“We’re probably being overly conservative, but we’re dealing with kids, so it’s better to be concerned,” said Opstad.
“We’re taking precautions mainly because it’s better on the safe side.”
The boy’s name was not disclosed.
After consulting with state health officials and Jefferson County Health Officer, Dr. Tom Locke, school district officials decided to keep the school open today.
Parents were given the option of keeping their children at home, but asked to report absences to the main office.
