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By BILL STEWART and ELIZABETH COMEAU
Staff Writers 11/17/2007

Brown, who received test results Friday, said the players were cleared to play in today's Class B state championship game against Mountain Valley.

He added that he did not know if any of the players, who include four starters on offense, tested positive for non-MRSA staph, which state health officials describe as a common infection that is easily treatable, sometimes without the need for antibiotics.

Gardiner and Mountain Valley kick off tonight at 6 in Portland's Fitzpatrick Stadium for the Class B state championship. The Tigers (10-1) are seeking their first state title since 1985. Mountain Valley (10-1) is the defending Class B state champion.

"We should be all set," Brown said Friday night. "We still have a few forms that need to be turned in (Saturday) but to this point everything has come back negative in terms with MRSA."

Mountain Valley head coach Jim Aylward said Friday that his team is not concerned with the health situation. He added that the players were hopeful each team would be at full strength.

"We don't want it to be easy," Aylward said. "We respect our opponent and want our opponent to have a fair shot."

Some parents on Friday expressed concern about when they were notified of a possible staph outbreak.

Superintendent Paul Knowles said he first learned of a possible outbreak of staph at the high school last Saturday. Parents didn't find out until Thursday.

Knowles said he waited before telling parents because he wanted to see the initial test results.

"We sent letters out once it was confirmed," Knowles said. "We certainly want to notify people if there are numerous incidents any time safety is an issue or we're dealing with something contagious... We wouldn't notify everyone if this was an isolated incident."

Knowles said he received a call last Saturday from Gardiner Area High School Principal Chad Kempton that five members of the football team might have a contagious and potentially fatal skin infection.

In response, the school began sanitizing the football locker room and cleaning all the equipment. Officials did more sanitizing Wednesday, Knowles said, and players were told to bring all their clothes and uniforms home to be cleaned.

By Monday afternoon, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention was notified.

Knowles said school officials notified parents of the players who may have contracted the bacteria on Tuesday. Those players were screened Wednesday.

The district's policy regarding communicable/infectious disease does not address parent notification, but Knowles said all parents were notified once it was determined if the skin infection was simply a minor irritation or an indication of something more serious.

Although some parents complained that they were not notified about the possible outbreak of staph, Knowles said all parents had, as of Thursday, been notified.

"All high school parents have been notified, and although this seems to be isolated to the football team at the high school, we certainly want everyone to have heightened awareness and are working with parents and students as we start the winter sports season."

Elizabeth Comeau -- 623-3811, Ext. 433

ecomeau@centralmaine.com

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