Monrovia – Health authorities in Liberia disclosed on Wednesday that 3,576 people are now infected with a skin disease that has sparked wide spread health concern in the country, confirming that the disease is scabies. Officials of the National Public Health Institute (NPHIL) and the Ministry of Health had earlier expressed uncertainties over the identity of the skin infection although they said most of the signs and symptoms patients were showing resemble scabies. Scabies is an itchy and highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the itch mite known scientifically as Sarcoptes scabiei. NPHIL says it has collaborated with ministry of health through the county health team to do surveillance in the five affected counties, have initiated active case search with Zonal Surveillance Officers and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) especially in Montserrado. Health authorities are calling on people with “super infection” cases (rash with sore and puss) of skin should be refer or must go to the nearest health clinic and cases without super infection can be treated at home with supervision by the County Health Volunteer, including household treatment with a lotion containing benzyl benzoate.

Source: Front Page Africa January 10, 2018 18:33 UTC