The staph infection that has been garnering national attention in recent weeks has surfaced at Binghamton University, as a male student was diagnosed with a non-invasive strain of the bacteria this Wednesday.

BU officials notified students and faculty via e-mail that a student living on campus was diagnosed with MRSA ‘ a type of staph infection generally known for its resistance to antibiotics.

But because the student’s case is non-invasive ‘ meaning it likely takes the form of a skin infection ‘ and is categorized as a ‘minor infection’ by University officials, he is being treated with antibiotics.

The student is ‘responding and doing well’ and going about his regular routine, according to Michael Leonard, the medical director at BU’s Health Services. The University has also taken ‘extra protective measures’ with individuals close to the student to ensure the infection will not be spread, he said.

Leonard said yesterday that the infection, called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a ‘very common bacterium’ and is easy to deal with in most cases.

‘There have been some highlighted cases, and actually I think it was through the journal of the American Medical Association,’ he said. ‘It just seemed like the problem was bigger than what we thought it was, so it’s getting a lot of attention.’

‘But in fact, this is a preventable disease,’ Leonard said during a press conference. ‘It’s spread by contact only. It’s not aerosol or airborne, so it’s easy to prevent, it’s easy to identify and it’s easy to treat.’

In an effort to further inform students and their families about the case, Leonard said that his department is answering phone calls and treating students in the campus walk-in clinic.

The Real Education About College Health, a peer education organization of the Health Education division, is also spreading the word.

‘They’ve been very active in doing hand-washing techniques and cleaning of cell phones,’ Leonard said. ‘They’re students who go up to other students and give them health tips, tell them how to use health services. They’re picking up on this and going directly to students as well.’

The prevention and treatment of the germ, according to Leonard, is one and the same ‘ washing hands, and covering and cleaning wounds.

‘It’s a very prevalent organism,’ said Mary Yourdon, a public health nurse in charge of the communicable disease program at the Broome County Health Department. ‘Basically good hand-washing and keeping cuts covered, not sharing personal items ‘ that’s all we’re doing, is encouraging that, and we’re answering the community’s questions. There’s no way to eradicate a disease that so many people carry, so educational messages are what public health [is doing].’

According to Yourdon, there is no way to tell how many cases of the infection actually exist in the county because of the extensiveness of the germ.

Leonard said that taking precautions against the infection is beneficial beyond just preventing MRSA, calling it a ‘great opportunity’ for the public to fend off influenza, E. coli and even the common cold.

MRSA has raised concerns nationwide after a Brooklyn middle school student and a Virginia teenager died from more severe forms of the ailment.

The germ also garnered local attention when two cases of the infection were found in Tioga County, and a case was reported in the Union-Endicott Central School District on Monday.

Some local schools are stepping up measures to prevent the spread of the germ by installing extra hand sanitizers, encouraging the use of disinfectant products designed to protect against MRSA and posting informative signs.

New York state officials are working on legislation to counter the bug. Last week a bill was presented which would require extra posters to be hung up in common areas of both public and private schools, reminding students to wash their hands.

Likewise, Sen. Martin Golden introduced a proposal that would call for state hospitals to check patients for the infection.