Health authorities are sounding the alarm over a dramatic resurgence of a highly contagious medieval skin infection, with multiple cases now confirmed in schools across Devon.
Outbreak Hits Educational Settings
South Devon College in Torbay has reported seven confirmed cases of scabies among its student body. The infection, caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite burrowing under the skin, spreads through prolonged close contact. While causing significant concern, Torbay Council has confirmed that no schools in the area have been closed as a direct result of the outbreak.
Doctors warn that the condition is often mistaken for eczema or other common rashes, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. This misidentification allows the mites to spread unchecked within households and communities.
National Case Numbers Triple
This local cluster is part of a worrying national trend. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals a staggering increase in scabies diagnoses, soaring from around 1,421 in 2022 to 4,872 in 2024. This represents a more than threefold rise in just two years, signalling a significant public health challenge.
General practitioners report that a major factor in the spread is hesitation to seek medical care. Experts are urging anyone suffering from a persistent, intensely itchy rash to consult a healthcare professional without delay to obtain accurate diagnosis and begin treatment.
Symptoms and High-Risk Forms
The tell-tale rash of scabies typically emerges up to eight weeks after infection. It commonly appears in skin folds, such as between the fingers, on the wrists, under the arms, around the waist, groin, and buttocks. For individuals with darker skin tones, the rash can be less visible, making early detection more difficult.
A rare but severe variant known as crusted scabies poses a greater threat. It primarily affects people with compromised immune systems, presenting as a thick, flaky rash on the elbows, knees, hands, and feet. This form is exceptionally contagious.
Treatment and Prevention Guidance
Effective treatment involves prescription scabicide creams or lotions applied to the entire body, sometimes alongside topical steroids to relieve severe itching. UK health guidance stresses that all members of a household must be treated simultaneously, even if they are not showing symptoms, to prevent ping-pong reinfection. Children under two require assessment by a GP before treatment begins.
The NHS outlines crucial steps to prevent reinfection after treatment:
- Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing at 60°C or higher on the first day of treatment.
- Seal non-washable items in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours to kill any mites.
- Avoid sharing clothes, towels, or bedding until the treatment course is fully complete.
In certain cases, oral ivermectin is now recommended alongside topical treatments. While scabies is not typically serious, it causes severe discomfort and can spread rapidly through communities if left unchecked. Health officials emphasise that prompt action is the key to containing outbreaks and protecting public health.
