One hospital ward don close for Wales because of outbreak of crusted scabies, wey be rare and very contagious form of the sickness. Hywel Dda health board say Steffan Ward for Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, go remain closed while dem dey manage the outbreak according to infection prevention and control procedures.
The health board say all patients and staff wey dem identify as contacts don receive information and treatment, even those wey no get symptoms. Crusted scabies, wey dem formerly call Norwegian scabies, cause scaly rash and thickened crusts of skin wey contain thousands of mites. E fit happen because of weak immune system, but no be always the case.
Extra infection prevention and control measures don dey put for the ward, including enhanced monitoring, treatment of identified contacts, and ongoing support from specialist teams. Hywel Dda health board say there be rise of scabies for the area wey dem dey oversee, wey include Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Ceredigion. This rise fit contribute to hospital outbreak.
According to NHS, scabies na itchy rash caused by mites wey spread through close skin contact. Anyone fit get am, and e suppose dey treated quick to stop am from spreading. Symptoms include intense itching, especially at night, and raised rash or spots wey usually spread across whole body, except head and neck. E often affect skin between fingers, around wrists, under arms, and around waist, groin, and bottom.
People with weakened immune system fit sometimes get crusted scabies, wey be rare and very contagious. The main symptom na crusted, flaky rash wey often affect elbows, knees, hands, and feet. The health board say the situation go dey under review, and the ward go reopen when e safe according to infection prevention and control guidance.
