The superbug we're talking about is methicillin resistant Stapholococcus aureus. You can call that MRSA, or pronounce it 'MUHR-suh.' It's a super-strong strain of a bacteria commonly found in all of our bodies. The not-so-dangerous strain is everywhere: There's a 30 percent chance you've got some in your nose, and a pretty good shot there's some on one of those buttons on your radio.
Despite these recently reported cases, most of us are, in fact, very safe. Cuyahoga County's Commissioner of Public Health Terry Allan says the best defense is the old stand-by. 'We know that at a very basic level, the most simple thing you can do is wash your hands,' Allan says. 'It's cheap and it's effective, so it can be used just about everywhere, esepcially in schools and other places in the community we care about'
If you happen to find yourself without access to soap or water, Allan says those anti-bacterial gels--like Purell--work OK, but nothing's as good as soap and water.