UPDATE: Seventh-Grader Confirmed to Have MRSA

A seventh-grade male at the middle school, with no clear connection to the other students already diagnosed with the contagious skin infection, has been medically confirmed to have MRSA, the Bridgewater-Raritan School District announced Thursday.

This makes four total cases throughout the district—a ninth-grade male on the freshman football team, a 12th grade male non athlete, the sixth-grade brother of the freshman football team member (from Eisenhower Intermediate School) and now the seventh-grader.

Since the last update from the district on Monday, all Bridgewater-Raritan owned buses have been disinfected. The district plans to disinfect all buses contracted from First Student this weekend.

District officials are encouraging students and faculty to make sure they are continuously washing their hands, and showering as soon as possible following physical activity.

As he announced during Tuesday's board of education meeting, Bridgewater-Raritan School District Superintendent Michael Schilder said officials still do not believe the disease is spreading.

"The fourth MRSA case appear to be completely unrelated to the other cases," he said Thursday. "Our medical examiner does not feel that MRSA is spreading at this point. All precautions are listed on the website."

The district has posted a MRSA fact sheet from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services on its website.