Official guidance from the Department of Health and the HealthProtection Agency will apply to strains of the bacteria that produce apoison called Panton- Valentine Leukocidin, or PVL, which can attack thelungs and kill within hours. A premature baby and a ten-year-old girlhave already died after becoming infected.
The bugs can spread through cuts, grazes and conditions such as eczemaand athlete's foot. Nurseries will be given advice on hygiene and howbest to deal with infected children.
An HPA spokesperson said, 'The guidance is being updated and willinclude advice for schools and nurseries. We are looking at theexperience of other countries where there have been outbreaks in areaswhere groups of people congregate.'
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