Health officials warn of MRSA outbreak among students in Delft and Randstad

Multiple students in Delft and other cities across the Randstad have recently been infected with MRSA, a bacterium resistant to most antibiotics, making it difficult to treat. The infections have prompted a warning from health authorities, especially for students participating in group activities.

The MRSA bacterium—commonly referred to as the “hospital bacterium”—poses little danger to healthy individuals but can be harmful to people with weakened immune systems or those hospitalized. The bacteria are typically transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as during sports or hugging, but can also spread through shared items like towels, sports mats, wound fluids, or skin flakes.

People can carry MRSA without experiencing symptoms, and in most cases, the bacteria disappear on their own. However, transmission remains a concern in densely populated and high-contact environments.

The GGD, the regional public health service, advises students to avoid participating in activities involving direct skin contact or those that could result in skin damage. This includes sports and hazing rituals, which often occur at the start of the academic year.