A scabies outbreak has hit four hospitals in New South Wales, as health officials reassure residents they are “working hard to control the outbreak”.
NSW Health confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that the number of scabies patients at four hospitals in the Illawarra, south of Sydney, had risen to 38, including 14 patients and 24 staff.
The first case of this infectious skin disease was reported at Wollongong Hospital, but it has since been reported at hospitals in nearby Coledale, Shellharbour and Bulli.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) chief executive Margot Mains said she recognised the “impact this unpleasant condition has had on patients and staff”.
“I would like to assure them and the community that we are working hard to control the outbreak and support those affected,” Mains said in a statement.
Scabies is a treatable infectious skin disease caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin, but like lice, it can be difficult to contain, especially in a hospital setting.
“Because scabies has an incubation period of up to six to eight weeks, is easily transmitted and may have minimal symptoms initially, there may be undetected cases within our facilities and community,” she said.
‘To avoid the risk of further transmission, the district will provide preventative treatment to all inpatients and current staff across all our hospital sites and services.’
Scabies is a treatable infectious skin disease caused by tiny mites. Image: Getty
Patients discharged from hospital since mid-May were also urged to watch for symptoms and contact their GPs if they developed an itchy rash.
Symptoms of scabies include rashes, commonly on the wrists, between the fingers and toes, in the armpits, elbows, groin, and buttocks, as well as sores and thick crusts on the skin.
In an earlier statement, Health Minister Ryan Park said “people have no reason to be worried or afraid” of scabies and that hospitals were necessarily being “overly cautious”.
“That’s why we’re doing everything we can to try to make sure that not only our patients are treated, cared for and prevented from getting scabies, but also our staff and those who visit the hospital,” he said.
‘Scabies is quite common, has no long-term consequences and is easily treatable.’