Fairfield school officials say three students contracted the MRSA infection over the past week.

Parents of students at Fairfield Ludlowe High School say they received an email alerting them to the cases of MRSA.

School headmaster Greg Hatzis says that despite the number of cases, there is a low risk to the rest of the student population. He says locker rooms have been disinfected to make people more comfortable.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a skin infection most likely to be spread through athletes who have open wounds. Health officials say MRSA can be a serious infection and can require hospitalization if not treated properly.

Fairfield health officials say students with a painful boil or pimple on their skin should see a doctor. They add that students should not share towels or razors and should always practice good hygiene.