Lee Andrews, 43, is facing a new health threat while held at Al-Awir prison in Dubai for alleged unpaid debts. A contagious disease, referred to by inmates as 'The Itchies,' has reportedly broken out and is spreading rapidly through the facility.
Disease Outbreak at Al-Awir
The outbreak was discussed by Lee's former partner Alana Percival and an anonymous woman who runs the social media account 'The Chaos Corner' on their joint podcast. In a clip shared on Instagram, the account owner said: "Do you know what’s happening in jail? They call it, the inmates in there call it ‘The Itchies’."
"So, they call it The Itchies and it’s spreading like wildfire in the prison and loads of people have got it," she added. The disease begins as a rash between the fingers before turning 'scaly' and spreading. The hosts identified it as "100% scabies."
Scabies and Prison Conditions
Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by microscopic mites that lay eggs under the skin. Treatment requires creams applied across the body. Al-Awir prison, often described as the Emirati version of Alcatraz, has a known problem with insects and has previously been reported as "lice ridden."
Lee, who is married to Katie Price, 48, is being held for a second time after allegedly failing to pay debts, a claim he denies. He was previously held in May for one month. Katie has said she will not pay to secure his release, though she continues to wear her wedding ring.
