Authorities have confirmed cases of the "superbug" at two Connecticut high schools.

The day after officials at Weston High School announced a student had been diagnosed with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, an invasive disease caused by a drug-resistant staph, officials at Newtown High School said a student there had been diagnosed as well.

The announcements came the same week a government report was released detailing an overall estimate of MRSA.

Channel 3 I-Team Investigation: Superbug Infections Increase In Connecticut Local Experts: Infection Resistant To Some Antibiotics

Weston High School officials sent a letter (Read The Full Letter) to students and parents on Tuesday addressing a confirmed case of MRSA, which enters the bloodstream or turns into the so-called flesh-eating disease.

"We are notifying everyone in the event that there are other possible cases; we are assessing the situation to help limit the spread of this potentially contagious infection," the letter read.

Another case of possible MRSA has not yet been confirmed at Weston High School as officials await culture results. School officials said that classes were in session on Wednesday in Weston.

Parents of students at Newtown High School received a letter on Wednesday informing them that a student at the school had been diagnosed with MRSA. (Read The Full Letter)

A student football player at Newtown told Eyewitness News the classmate is a teammate who noticed a rash on his body. Officials said the student has since returned to school after treatment.

More than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each year from a drug-resistant staph "superbug," according to the government report. In recent years, the drug-resistant germ has become more common in hospitals and has also been spreading through gyms, locker rooms, prisons and poor urban neighborhoods.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Leon Collins reported that under Connecticut law, schools are not required to report cases of MRSA within the community.

Weston school officials said that they decided to report the case to the public after the death of a 17-year-old Virginia high school female student on Monday. Doctors said the germ had spread to his kidneys, liver, lungs and muscles around his heart.

What Are The Symptoms?

MRSA is primarily a skin infection. It shows up in non-health-care-related cases primarily as pimples and boils, which may swell and become inflamed to the point that they require lancing by a doctor.

Very serious cases of MRSA can cause pneumonia and bloodstream infections, so it is important to seek medical attention if you have a skin infection that is red, swollen, painful and has pus or other drainage. It may not be MRSA, but it's important to find out.

"Our purpose in providing you with accurate information is precaution and prevention, not alarm." - Weston H.S. Letter on MRSA

How Is MRSA Transmitted?

According to Morcone, MRSA is transmitted primarily through skin-to-skin contact. It is not airborne, so coughing and sneezing will not spread it. It can be carried on towels and clothing, so it's important to take simple cleanliness steps to keep yourself safe.

Frequent handwashing, especially after any activity involving close contact with others, is one of the best protections against infection. Avoid sharing towels and personal care items.

Wounds are open doors through the protective outer layers of your skin, so it is very important that open wounds be kept clean and covered with clean bandages that are changed frequently.

What Is The Danger?

Pandemic is a word that gets attached to diseases very frequently. Morcone said it does not apply in the case of MRSA. Because of the method of transmission, a widespread outbreak is considered highly unlikely by the CDC.

That does not mean there is no concern, however. More and more cases are appearing outside health-care settings, and raising public consciousness about the transmission and dangers of MRSA is one of the best ways to fight the spread.

For more information on MRSA, visit the CDC page on MRSA.

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