MRSA infection linked to death of 12-year-old boy

MRSA infection linked to death of 12-year-old boy
Gary Taylor | Sentinel Staff Writer
December 16, 2008
A 12-year-old Volusia County boy initially thought to have died from chickenpox may have succumbed to a drug-resistant staph infection known as MRSA, an official said Monday.

Cody Shrout, a student at Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach, had signs of chickenpox in his blood, but the likely cause of death was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, said Dave Byron, a Volusia County spokesman.

Cody's death comes as about 40 students at Spruce Creek High School in nearby Port Orange are being treated after contracting chickenpox.

Health officials are aware of Cody's death but wouldn't discuss it because of privacy laws. However, they did say they are not facing a public-health threat.
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