BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A Bakersfield teenager died from drug-resistant staph infection on Feb 17, according to the girl’s stepfather, Michael Sanchez.

Sanchez said Marissa Reyna, 16, went to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital with what they thought was a flu-related illness. He said Reyna was in the hospital for 5 days before she succumbed to the infection.

Reyna was treated by Dr. Muhammad Ashraf-Alim, a pulmonary critical care specialist. She died from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA.

Health officials said staph infections are rarely fatal in young people. MRSA has hit Kern County before. Two years ago, a student at North High also passed away after suffering a staph infection.

Reyna was a junior at West High School. Her funeral was Wednesday.

CDC Web site: Prevention and Control of Healthcare-Associated MRSA