Declaring the Month of September MRSA Awareness Month in the City Of Philadelphia and calling upon The School District to report MRSA on a Case By Case Basis, and to incorporate information regarding MRSA into Health Classes.

WHEREAS, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA--is an insidious and potentially dangerous staph infection; and

WHEREAS, MRSA is a deadly serious public health problem in Philadelphia and across the country; and

WHEREAS, It is important that the citizens of Philadelphia realize what this infection is, how easily it can be passed from one person to another, and how potentially lethal it is, especially in children or adults with compromised immune systems; and

WHEREAS, The infection is becoming increasingly prevalent among school-age athletes, especially those involved in team sports; and

WHEREAS, Each September, as a new school year begins, it is imperative that parents and children - especially those involved in team sports - understand how a MRSA infection is contracted and what prevention steps they must take to avoid acquiring the potentially deadly infection; and

WHEREAS, In an effort to prevent a tragedy, it is vital that City schools incorporate information about MRSA into their public health classes; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, THAT, Declares the Month of September MRSA Awareness Month and calls upon The School District to report MRSA on a Case By Case Basis, and to incorporate information regarding MRSA into Health Classes.

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