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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/1...f8755464641.txt

Scabies outbreak halts visitation for jail inmates

From Staff Reports
Published: Thursday, December 2, 2010 5:09 PM CST
LA PORTE — Visitation for La Porte County Jail inmates has been suspended until Dec. 13 due to a scabies outbreak there, the sheriff’s department announced.

“It would be unacceptable for a loved one to visit an inmate and take a case of scabies home with them,” Sheriff Mike Mollenhauer said in a news release. “These precautions are being taken for everyone’s benefit.”

Human scabies is caused by an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The microscopic scabies burrow into the upper layer of the skin, where it lives and lays its eggs. The mite is usually contracted by direct contact with an infected person, and can spread rapidly under crowded conditions where close body contact is frequent.

Institutions such as nursing homes, child-care facilities and prisons are often sites of scabies outbreaks.

The extent of the problem is unknown, but inmates in several cell blocks have been diagnosed with scabies. All jail inmates have been locked in their cells to prevent further spread of the infestation. Universal precautions are being used by jail and patrol staff.

The Jail Medical Unit is working with Advanced Correctional Healthcare to correct the problem. The issue is expected to be resolved by Dec. 8.