whats worse than bird flu

21 Aug 2006
MRSA, Scarier than SARS or Bird Flu

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA, a type of bacteria resistant to treatment, is becoming a potential threat to public health; it spreads through direct contact and can spark off skin infections in normal healthy people.

This infection is thought to be dormant in nearly 2.3 million Americans with no apparent signs of sickness, which makes it all the more crucial to identify the carriers of the illness and treat them effectively to contain the spread of the disease.

MRSA can spread with a simple skin-to-skin contact, even sharing of personal items. MRSA is also resistant to the commonly used antibiotics. Those who have healthy immune systems can throw out the bacteria from their system without much medical assistance, but it can take a severe turn for those whose immunity is weak, which could result in blood poisoning, pneumonia, and even death. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that MRSA is the cause of nearly 90,000 serious infections and death of 17,000 people annually.