Vaccine Controversy: One Maryland county got some unwanted international media attention when it asked parents of potentially unvaccinated children to appear at a courthouse to update their kids’ medical records or get them vaccinated. Word got out that the county planned to jail parents who refused to vaccinate their kids. The state’s attorney insisted that the idea was only to get records up-to-date and get children who were possibly out of compliance back into school. But critics said the tactics amounted to intimidation and complained that parents were not given information about their rights or potential risks and side effects of the vaccines. Furthermore, children without medical records were in danger of being re-vaccinated, protesters warned.

Keeping Safe from the “Superbug”: Tips from the CDC for avoiding or recognizing MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus:

• What to avoid: The bacteria is transmitted through person-to-person contact or by using an infected person’s belongings. So to prevent the infection, wash your hands frequently with soap and water — using soap from a bottle, not bar soap, which can breed the bacteria — or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors. And keep cuts and scrapes clean, apply antibiotic ointment and cover them with a bandage.

• Recognize: If any cut or scrape becomes red, hot or infected, see a doctor immediately. In its early stages, MRSA infections may resemble pimples or boils, and they’re commonly mistaken for spider bites. It also can manifest as a rash, and may be accompanied by fever or fatigue.

• Hospital: About 85 percent of MRSA infections originate in health-care settings. So hospital patients should be on the lookout for the symptoms mentioned above and notify a nurse if any arise.

• Treatment: Skin abscesses must be drained by a doctor, and patients are then given an antibiotic, one of the drugs that MRSA hasn’t developed a resistance against. More serious infections may require hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics and other treatments.