Nov 28, 2007 6:27 am US/Eastern
Health Dept. To Hold Public Hearing On 'Superbug'
Proposed Law Would Make Reporting Of MRSA Cases Mandatory
BROOKLYN (CBS) ―
The "superbug," also known as MRSA, will be the topic of a public hearing in downtown Manhattan, after a 12-year old Brooklyn boy died from the disease sparking controversy as well as fear.
The public will have a chance to be heard today regarding cases of the superbug. The Board of Health wants to pass a law requiring medical labs to tell officials about any known cases of the staph infection.
After a 12-year old Brooklyn middle student died after being diagnosed with the staph infection known as MRSA back in October, his mother accused Kings County Hospital of negligence and carelessness because an emergency room doctor failed to diagnose her son and instead gave him over the counter medication and sent him home. He died two days later.
Not long after, the antibiotic resistant infection, turned up among two of New York's bravest. According to fire officials, seven employees of the fire department were diagnosed with MRSA. All were treated and expected to be fine, but after those recent scares, city health officials have been trying to calm fears and today are holding a public hearing to let New Yorkers say whether the city should be told about individual cases of the infection.
The board of health wants to pass a law requiring labs to tell officials about any cases of MRSA. Labs are required to report outbreaks, but right now the reporting of individual cases is on a voluntary basis.
Today's hearing will be held at 10am at the Department of Health office and it's open for the public to attend.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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