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Uganda officials report more than 1,000 people in sixteen villages in Hoima district are battling a fresh outbreak of scabies– Nyakabingo, Bineneza, Kalyango, Kigawa, Bugandale, Kibugubya, Kyarubanga, and Katugo villages in Kyabigambire sub-county among others.

Scabies mite/CDC

Dr. Lawrence Tumusiime, the Hoima District Health Officer-DHO has called on the scabies victims to maintain good personnel hygiene, adding that the health department will soon dispatch a team to start treating the affected residents.

Roland Musiime, the health assistant in charge of Kyabigambire sub-county, says that they have embarked on a massive health sensitization awareness campaign among the locals to contain the further spread of the disease.

According to the CDC, typical scabies is a non-life threatening, easily treatable infestation of the skin by the human itch mite. Symptoms of scabies include intense itching and a pimple-like rash. It is usually spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person.

More about scabies

However, in the case of immunocompromised patients, the elderly, the disabled or debilitated, crusted scabies is more easily transmitted through casual contact with the patient or the environment. While the risk of exposure to scabies is of concern, clinically it is described as a nuisance rather than a health concern. It is easily treatable with an ointment or oral medication.

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