Last month, dozens of healthcare providers, including one patient, were diagnosed with scabies, a highly contagious skin disease, at Jupiter Medical Center.
A spokesperson of the medical center said that a critical care cancer patient was admitted to the hospital in early November. And the patient was found to have scabies during the course of treatment.
The patients and 40 other healthcare providers at the medical center were diagnosed with the infectious skin disease and treated.
Chief Quality Officer at Jupiter Medical Center Dr. Raymond Golish said, “There’s no evidence that any other patient has symptoms indicative of scabies.”
Dr. Golish said people who had encountered the patient or showed any signs or symptoms of scabies have received treatment. He said, “40 team members at Jupiter Medical Center have received treatment for symptoms and possible contact with the patient.”
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County said a case of scabies was reported to officials at Jupiter Medical Center on December 4.
And since then, the health officials have been working closely with the medical center to monitor the outbreak and continue surveillance. They are also making sure proper protocols are being followed in order to stop the spread of the disease.
Dr. Golish said, “Somebody coming to Jupiter hospital is safe.”
According to the CDC, scabies is a contiguous disease caused by an “infestation of the skin by the human itch mite.” The scabies mites invade the upper layer of the skin, living there and laying their eggs, causing the infection.
A skin rash with an intense itching is one of the most common symptoms of scabies. The infection spreads by direct or close contact with a person with scabies.
The CDC says, scabies outbreaks commonly take place in nursing homes, extended-care facilities, and prisons. Meanwhile, Jupiter Medical Center authorities have urged people to contact the hospital if you have any questions related to scabies or feel you may have contracted the infection.
