SANDY CREEK — Stewart R. Amell, superintendent for the Sandy Creek Central School District, confirmed one student has the antibiotic-resistant staph infection, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

Mr. Amell wouldn't divulge what grade or building the student was in.

"It's just a case that was brought to my attention the first part of the week," he said.

MRSA traditionally is found in hospitals and nursing homes, but has since spread outside of health-care facilities.

He wrote a letter to district parents explaining that a case was confirmed and reminding what precautions their children should take to avoid the spread of infection.

He wrote that parents and guardians should remind their child to keep hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water and to practice good skin care because MRSA starts with a break in the skin.

Washing any cut or break in the skin with soap and water and applying a clean bandage until it is healed is encouraged, Mr. Amell wrote.

Lastly, if a child has a wound that doesn't appear to be healing, a parent or guardian should contact the child's health care provider, the school-based health center or the school nurse.

"Last winter we had a case too," Mr. Amell said Friday morning. "I sent out a similar letter to that, just letting them know about hand washing."

He said the district has had only three calls since the letter was sent Tuesday.