Oct 26, 2007 7:02 pm US/Eastern
MRSA Madness: Parents Understandably Fearful
Death Of 7th Grader Gets New York City's Attention
BROOKLYN (CBS) ―
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Omar Rivera, a seventh grader from Brooklyn, died recently from the MRSA superbug staph infection.
CBS
City health officials were scrambling Friday to reassure the public their children are safe.
They're trying to prevent panic after a 12-year-old Brooklyn boy died after a bout with the so-called "Superbug" infection.
Omar Rivera died almost two weeks ago from the drug resistant bug known as MRSA.
Now, parents at the school are concerned that their children may be at risk.
Maureen Daly's mother died from a MRSA infection she caught at a major city hospital. The death of little Rivera from the same thing is very painful for her.
"My reaction is shock and anger," Daly said. "My heart goes out to the child's family but you can't console a mother and tell her it's not a big risk. The risk is small but her child is dead."
But that was the tack taken by city officials Friday, saying it's rare for a child to die of MRSA.
"There's no reason to think that other children in that school are at higher risk," a NYC health official said.
Some parents aren't buying that line.
"They're taking the necessary precautions so I have faith in the school," parent Zenja Santos said.
Others are not.
"They said that it is fine, that she can stay in school but I want to take her to the doctor to make sure everything's fine," Aiesha Cook said.
Kids are worried
"I'm scared I might catch it from somebody else in the school who might have it," IS 211 student Carlos Myrie said.
Rivera's best friend, Khalid James, is heartbroken.
"I feel shocked," Khalid said. "I still don't believe he died, like sad."
Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for the latest in this developing story.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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