Bellaire High School staph outbreak: What parents, students need to know now

The lights were on at Delmar Stadium Friday night, but the stands were empty. No Bellaire Cardinals or Lamar Texans took the field after Bellaire High School confirmed several students had been diagnosed with staph infections.

Bellaire notified parents by email earlier this week that the varsity football game against Lamar High School had been canceled after several athletes were confirmed with staph.

Parent learns severity after visiting campus

One parent told KPRC 2 he didn’t fully understand the severity of the situation until he stopped by the school Friday.

• RELATED: Confirmed cases of staph infection leads to cancelation of Bellaire-Lamar HS football game

“Some of the staff were wearing gloves, some of them were wearing masks, but none of the students were. I just found out last night through my son, because he said that a lot of the kids were coming in with rashes,” a Bellaire told KPRC 2 reporter Sandy Torres.

What staph infections look like

For parents wondering what to watch for, health officials describe the infection as similar in appearance to a large pimple. It may first appear as a rash, and the affected area can also be swollen and warm to the touch.

How to prevent the spread

Health officials and the school are urging parents and students to take the following precautions:

• Practice good hygiene
• Washing hands regularly and showering can go a long way in prevention
• Keep wounds clean and covered

The Houston Health Department also advises:

• Keeping cuts, scrapes and open wounds clean and covered at all times
• Don’t share personal items
• Avoid sharing towels, clothing or any personal items with someone who has a staph infection
• Avoid contact with infected areas
• Do not touch areas of skin that appear infected.

One grandmother outside the school offered a familiar reminder while holding up a bottle of hand sanitizer.

“I know what you mean about staph infections, they are bad. I guess keep some of this around, since we are already used to it anyway,” a cardinal’s grandmother said.

Bellaire High sent an additional update to parents Friday, advising them to keep those prevention tips top of mind.

HISD yet to respond on disinfection protocols

Bellaire High School told parents in an email it is following HISD guidelines, but KPRC 2 has not been able to confirm that. The station reached out to HISD multiple times to confirm whether the entire school was disinfected. As of publication, HISD had not responded.

Parents with concerns about their student’s health are encouraged to seek medical attention.