Another six children and an adult have contracted the contagious skin infection scabies as health authorities continue to stress that the situation is under control and that there is no reason to worry.

Scabies is caused by a mite that burrows under the skin and, although it is unpleasant, it is treatable and not life-threatening.

The seven new patients bring the total number of reported scabies cases to 71 since the authorities began investigating the outbreak that started in an old people’s home in Sa Maison two weeks ago. No new cases have been reported at the home where those infected were given the necessary treatment to kill the mite.

“There is no reason to worry because the situation is under control... the number of infected people is decreasing,” said Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Department director Charmaine Gauci.

The 71 cases include 35 residents from the old people’s home, 14 staff members from the same home and five children related to the staff. The total includes a separate cluster of 11 children and six adults who are not linked to the home.

Three of the new cases involve students who attend the government primary school in Marsa. Meetings were held with parents to explain to them what to do to prevent the infection from spreading.

Infected patients and anyone who could have come into close contact with them – such as relatives, friends and teachers – were treated with a lotion and the situation was under control, Dr Gauci said.

Contrary to common misconception, scabies is not related to lack of cleanliness and hygiene. The mite is transmitted from one person to the other through close contact and anyone can get infected. Every year there are a couple of reported cases of scabies. This year the numbers were higher than usual because the infection started in an institution where it is more likely to spread.

Dr Gauci cautioned people who suspected they had scabies not to use lotions unless prescribed because they could develop a resistance to the product.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.