A total of five schools reportedly have confirmed cases
File image of person scratching their arm (Image: Alamy/PA)
A further 12 cases of a Victorian-era disease have been reportedly confirmed across schools in South Devon.
A total of seven cases of scabies were confirmed by a medical professional earlier this week after there was an outbreak among students.
Today (Thursday, November 27) a further 12 cases have reportedly been confirmed across a number of schools in the Torbay area.
There are reportedly cases of scabies at five schools, including two primary schools.
Torbay Help Hub warned parents, carers, and workers to contact their schools to find out what measures they are putting in place following the outbreak.
It said: “Confirmed scabies cases at the following Torbay locations.
- South Devon College (Seven cases so far)
- Paignton Academy (Three cases so far)
- Torquay Academy (Three cases so far)
- St Marychurch Primary School (Five cases confirmed so far)
- Homelands Primary School (One confirmed case so far).
“Symptoms include: intense itching, especially at night, and a rash with tiny red spots or bumps.
“If you think you may have scabies, stay home, avoid contact with others and call NHS 111 non-emergency line.
“Please contact your school, college, or workplace to find out what measures they are putting in place.”
Earlier this week DevonLive reported that South Devon College sent an email to parents and carers warning of a confirmed outbreak of scabies among a number of students.
The college said: “We have been notified of seven confirmed cases of scabies amongst our student community.
“These cases have been diagnosed by a health professional”.
On Tuesday (November 25) the college said there were no confirmed cases among staff.
Scabies is caused by a mite which burrows into the skin, causing intense itching due to an allergic reaction to the parasite and its waste products.
The UKHSA said: “Scabies is a parasitic infection of the skin caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, which buries into the skin and causes intense itching and rashes.
“Transmission from person to person occurs through close physical contact including, but not exclusively, sexual contact.”
Scabies requires treatment to go away, and infections don’t pass with time.
Scabies is not usually a serious condition but it does need to be treated.
Anyone diagnosed with scabies should begin treatment, and all people in their household will also need to be treated at the same time, regardless of whether they have symptoms.
The NHS said: “Scabies is an itchy rash caused by mites. It’s spread through close skin contact, and anyone can get it. It should be treated quickly to stop it spreading.
“The symptoms include intense itching, especially at night, and a raised rash or spots.”
Adults and children aged five years or over can go back to work or school as soon as they have started treatment, but it’s important to avoid close contact with other people for the first 24 hours.
Children under five years old can go back to nursery or pre-school 24 hours after the first treatment.