Scabies: what to know about the outbreak of this contagious skin condition in hospitals

Google searches for “NSW scabies outbreak” have spiked over recent days in light of an outbreak of the contagious skin condition in New South Wales. According to the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District south of Sydney, an initial case was detected at Wollongong Hospital in late July. Since then, at least 11 patients and 23 staff have been diagnosed with scabies across four hospitals in the region.So what is scabies, and is this outbreak cause for concern?An itchy rashScabies is a skin infestation caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite (a type of microscopic insect), which buries underneath skin and lays eggs. Generally, the symptoms show up as an itchy rash, raised bumps, or bites. You may also see “tracks” on your skin, which might appear as thin, tiny, raised or discoloured lines. Scabies most commonly appears in folds of the skin, such as between the fingers, under the armpit, or in the groin area. The itch is usually worse at night or after you’ve had a hot shower.Scabies can...