NEW YORK (WABC) – Nine probationary New York City Fire Department firefighters are on light duty and being treated for possible MRSA infection, the department confirms. They are members of a current class of 321 and have symptoms of the bacterial infection. It was first detected last week when possible symptoms were detected.
“We take this issue very seriously and we are acting aggressively to combat this problem by increasing our schedule of cleaning and disinfecting of facilities and equipment and educating our Instructors and Probies at the Fire Academy about how to prevent open wounds and the spread of MRSA,” said Frank Dwyer, a FDNY spokesperson, in a statement.
They have been treated and the FDNY does not know how many may actually have MRSA.