Scabies Outbreak At Elementary School Under Investigation

Health officials were investigating an outbreak of scabies on Saturday at a local school after nine students and staff members contracted the infection.

The cases emerged in one classroom at South Lawn Elementary School, Coshocton City Schools superintendent Dave Hire said.

Hire said that the Coshocton County Health Department was notified five students and four teachers and aides had contracted symptoms.

The school was increasing hand washing and building sanitation to prevent others from becoming infected, Hire said.

Human scabies is caused by an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10TV News reported.

The microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs. The most common symptoms of scabies are intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash.

 The scabies mite usually is spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies. It can survive up to 72 hours on surfaces.

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