Football Game Postponed Due to Skin-Infection Outbreak

Tonight's Council Rock High School South football game against Pennsbury has been postponed until Monday due to a skin infection outbreak, according to the team's website and a letter from the principal.

Principal Albert R. Funk said in a statement that two student football players had confirmed cases of skin infections Thursday afternoon.

"Both of those players had been excluded from participation with the team during the week until tests were conclusive," Funk said.

After the athletic trainer and wrestling coaches examined all of the JV and varsity players, 20 of the more than 70 players had skin abrasions. The abrasions could be innocuous, but were deemed suspicious enough to warrant further evaluation, the principal said.

During the skin check, some of the players with suspicious marks said they had already brought them to the attention of a physician and were either told it was not an infection or given some form of medication.

Coaches, administrators and the trainer contacted the parents or guardians of any player with a possible skin infection and notified them that their son would not be permitted to participate until cleared by a physician.

The athletic director John Radick contacted Pennsbury High School to alert them of the skin infection situation.

The game has been rescheduled for Monday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.

Postponing the game will give the school more time to conduct additional skin checks and to be sure the issue is contained, Funk said.

"The team locker room, weight room, and shower facilities have been completely sanitized and will receive extensive cleaning daily over the next several weeks. Aramark will be sanitizing the entire building, including the cafeteria," Funk said.

Players will receive regular skin checks for the duration of the season. Any player who has a suspicious mark on their skin will be made ineligible to play until cleared by a physician, according to Funk.

"While we are hopeful that this issue is contained, we do realize that certain infections have incubation periods of several days, so we will remain vigilant and continue to monitor the situation closely," Funk said.