The Poinciana High School varsity football team forfeited its game at Port Orange Atlantic Thursday due to a staph infection outbreak.

At least 13 players were infected, according to Osceola County School District Activities Coordinator Ryan Adams.

Adams said the football game was moved to Thursday because Hurricane Sandy caused Volusia County schools to cancel all activities Friday and Saturday.

Adams said that because there is no guarantee that Poinciana will have enough healthy players to compete Monday, another possible makeup date, Poinciana forfeited the game, 2-0. The loss drops the team’s record to 1-7 and 0-4 in the district.

The team’s next scheduled game is Nov. 2 at Eustis. Unless most of the players recuperate, that game also may be in  jeopardy.

“The players that have it cannot practice or play until they are cleared by a doctor,” Osceola County School District spokeswoman Dana Schafer said, adding the infection is currently contained to the football team.

Parents of all Poinciana High students were notified Wednesday via an automated call about a “minor skin infection” spreading around campus.

Letters were sent home Thursday to the parents of the football players explaining the infection, what the school is doing about it and what the student needs to do to prevent spreading.

“With a staph infection, you don’t know where you get it, whether it was at home or at the school,” Schafer said. “Obviously, our job is to control it.”

School staff has been deep cleaning the locker rooms since last weekend, Schafer added.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, staphylococcus aureus, referred to as staph, is one of the most common germs found on human skin and noses. Most of the time it is harmless.

The contagious infection becomes an issue when it enters the body and can be as minor as a pimple or as serious as a blood infection.

Staph is most commonly spread through contact with another person or by sharing items such as towels.

The spread of the infection is prevented by keeping wounds clean and bandaged.

Sports editor Rick Pedone contributed to this report.