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Scabies infests health department

Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

COLUMBIA COUNTY — The Columbia County Department of Health has confirmed an infestation of scabies.

Social Services Commissioner Paul Mossmon told the Register-Star that the department is aware of the situation.

“We are well aware and we are working with the health department to determine an appropriate course of action,” Mossman said. “We are still experiencing confirmed cases and therefore we need to come up with a more in-depth plan to resolve this issue. We have gone above and beyond initial expectations, but since there is a re-infection we need to take a much more in-depth course of action.”

It is believed the outbreak may have started when a caseworker entered a client’s home and brought the infection back to the office, Mossman said. Officials, however, are not certain about that cause.

A source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, identified the department as having been infected with scabies. The source claimed the infestation has spread from department employees to family members. They believe that the building should be shut down and the infestation eradicated by professionals, as they dislike the actions taken by the department to halt the spread of scabies.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, scabies is, “An infestation of the skin with the microscopic mite, sarcoptes scabei... Scabies spreads rapidly under crowded conditions where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people, such as in hospitals, institutions, child-care facilities, and nursing homes.”

It can produce “pimple like irritations” that itch and can erupt into sores due to scratching.

Scabies is usually not passed by a simple handshake but by prolonged contact with a infested individual. It can be spread by using towels, clothing and linens of an infected person. Adult female mites can live on a human body for up to a month.

Symptoms for newly diagnosed people will usually appear in four to six weeks; those who have already been diagnosed with scabies can expect symptoms to show up significantly sooner. Treatment involves application of creams prescribed by your health care provider. The CDC adds that three days before treatment all linens, towels, and clothes should be “washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer.”

For more information on scabies, visit www.cdc.gov.

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