Paramedics and health experts have confirmed reports of an outbreak of scabies at Dagbriboari in the North East Region of the country.
Speaking to Citi News, Acting North East Regional Director of Health Service, Dr Abdullai Abukari, stated that the disease which was first reported at Dagbriboari in the North East Region has since spread to 16 communities in the past four months.
He said that though the disease is not very widespread, a lot of people and children have been affected.
Human scabies is among the ten top skin diseases in Ghana.
It is caused by an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite.
The microscopic mite burrows into 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 spreads by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact. It can also spread rapidly under crowded conditions, where close body contact is frequent.
Dr. Abdullai said though it takes time to order the medication and get it to all of those who may have been affected, the process of meting out medications have started.
“It takes several days for the medication to kick in. Hopefully in the next few days, latest by Monday we should get the medications,” he said.
“We are just treating those who have been affected with the medications we have now,” he added.
He also assured the community members that the situation is under control since health officials are assessing the situation.
Community members first associated the disease to myths and superstition, but the doctor denounced that notion and advised them to avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or with items such as clothing or bedding used by the infected person as a precautionary measure.
