Scabies Outbreak Reported In Three Maltese Schools As Six Students Are Confirmed To Be Infected
At least six Maltese students have become infected with scabies, with three schools within San ?org Preca College undertaking a number of health and safety measure to minimise the outbreak.
Both the Department of Health and Department of Education are mobilising to restrict the outbreak, it is being reported.
There are two students currently infected with scabies in each school; however, a Ministry of Education representative has confirmed that other schools have not yet been effected yet.
A number of precautionary measures have been put in place until the outbreak is dealt with
- The classrooms were washed with disinfectant
- The parents of the children were immediately informed of their children’s scabies infection
- Soft toys and dolls brought by the students to the school were sent back with the students to be washed at home
- The Department of Health were informed, and pamphlets regarding scabies were given out in the classrooms with the infected students
Pictured: A case of scabies
Scabies is a contagious skin infestation by mites
It causes severe itchiness and a pimple-like rash which can develop into tiny burrows on the skin. The itch is often made worse at night, and the infestation is caused by infection from a female mite.
The mites burrow into the skin and live there, depositing eggs.