A London woman has revealed how she contracted a rare form of the medieval disease scabies from a fox that entered her home and settled on her sofa.
An Unwelcome Sofa Guest
Alexandra Shulman, a 67-year-old journalist from Hammersmith, found herself with an unbearable rash after a fox entered her house. The urban animal had curled up on her sofa, and shortly after Alexandra sat in the same spot, she felt an intense itch on her bottom. A vivid red rash soon emerged and persisted for days, becoming so severe it disrupted her sleep and forced her to spend hours in the bath for relief.
A Rare and Surprising Diagnosis
Initially, medics at A&E suspected an allergic reaction. However, Alexandra sought further expert opinion. A leading London dermatologist delivered a startling diagnosis: she was infested with the dog and fox scabies mite, sarcoptes scabiei var canis. The specialist confirmed this was the first such case they had encountered in over 30 years of practice. The diagnosis, described as "fox scabies or mange," meant Alexandra had to cancel a planned holiday to Croatia.
Writing about the ordeal, the mum-of-one said: "By the Sunday I was ready to rip my skin off. The nights were unbearable: unable to sleep, I tore at my skin." Her treatment involved covering her body for several weeks with a strong-smelling lotion typically used for head lice.
Scabies on the Rise in the UK
Alexandra's story comes amid recent reports of scabies outbreaks in schools across the UK. This highly contagious skin condition, caused by mites burrowing under the skin, was rampant in the Middle Ages. It spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and is often mistaken for eczema. Fortunately, the fox-derived variant Alexandra caught does not transmit between humans.
The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions between humans and urban foxes. It follows news that multi-millionaire businessman David Walsh erected an electric fence around his £44 million Notting Hill home to keep foxes out, citing his wife's fear of the animals.
